Tag Archives: reading

May11

Lil Red’s Book Club: A Perfectly Nice Family By Nicole Trope Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: A Perfectly Nice Family By Nicole Trope 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 Nicole Trope called A Perfectly Nice Family. This is the second book of Trope’s that I have read and it was pretty good! It didn’t blow my mind but it was still a solid, twisty suspense novel. After breezing through this book in three sittings, I am excited to start the second book in the Stillhouse Lake series next! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on A Perfectly Nice Family for disturbing content, general violence, and sexual violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Stephanie is a divorced mother of two to sixteen year old Luke and twelve year old Avery and she is barely getting by. She works part time while trying to obtain a degree, care for her children, and budget like crazy to make ends meet. It doesn’t help that child support from her ex-husband, Doctor Christopher Gordan, is so sporadic and she is sick and tired of begging him to do better. However, a change in luck might put Stephanie’s financial troubles at bay. Thanks to a suggestion from her best friend, Gail, she has decided to rent the granny flat behind her home to a struggling family called the Kemps. They recently lost their home in a fire and need somewhere to stay until they gather their bearings.

In a mere few days, the Kemps have moved in. Husband and wife, Cecilia and Jason, as well as their fifteen year old daughter, Polly. Although she knows that this family has been through a lot, Stephanie can’t help but feel that she has made a big mistake. Jason might be kind and friendly but Cecelia and Polly are a different story. They are rude, mean spirited, and all around off putting. Each respective member of the family seems to be constantly at Stephanie’s door with a request or a complaint. They have signed a six month lease and it promises to be the longest six months of Stephanie and her kids’ lives.

Shortly after the Kemps move in, things in Stephanie’s home begin to fall apart. A broken dishwasher, rotted window frames, and busted pipes occur within weeks. All repairs that Stephanie simply can’t afford to make. She has been suspicious of the Kemps since their arrival. There are no traces of them on the internet and their strange demeanor can’t go unnoticed. But, surely, they are A Perfectly Nice Family, right? Unfortunately, they are far from it and the damage that the Kemps are causing is just beginning. What is their end game? Read this book to find out!

A Perfectly Nice Family fell under my “good but not great” category. I did enjoy the quick read, though! This book went back and forth between Stephanie, Cecilia, and Avery and I loves me a back and forth narrator. It’s always interesting to read the different perspectives and watch as the pieces begin to come together! As far as the plot went, it was a classic Lifetime Movie novel (As Johnny calls my books!) through and through… Strangers are introduced, strange things start happening, and you know the rest. It wasn’t the most inspired story I have ever read but it definitely kept me turning the pages. Even though I easily figured out the grand reveal! Detective Lil Red on the case!

My primary issue with A Perfectly Nice Family were the characters. While I was, of course, rooting for Stephanie and her family, I failed to feel any kind of connection with them. They just seemed to be there to move the plot along and, of course, I sympathized with them deeply but I didn’t have a fondness for them. The Kemps were terrible, to be sure, but every character felt surface level at best with little to no development. If I could have hooked onto just one person in this book, I think I would have liked it better. It just didn’t work out that way.

Overall, I am going to rate A Perfectly Nice Family with a six out of ten stars. This is a thriller you can take or leave. It was fine for what it was but it’s also fine if you skip on it!

Have you read any of Nicole Trope’s books before? What did you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

Lil Red’s Book Club: Stillhouse Lake By Rachel Caine Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Stillhouse Lake By Rachel Caine 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 first book of a seven part series by Rachel Caine called Stillhouse Lake. If the other books are even half as good as this one, then I know I will be in for a treat! Stillhouse Lake had a crazy plot, was jam packed with twists and turns, and kept me guessing until the very last page. And, of course, that cliffhanger at the end made me want to sink my teeth into the next book ASAFP! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Stillhouse Lake for graphic crime scene content, gruesome violence, sexual violence, and highly disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Gwen Proctor is a tough mama bear who will go to no end to protect her two children, Lanny and Connor. However, she didn’t always used to be this way. She used to be Gina Royal. The submissive, complacent wife to the notorious serial killer, Melvin Royal. She was tried as an accessory to his crimes but was acquitted, claiming she knew nothing despite his murders happening in their own home. Since her release from jail, her and her children have been on the run. She may have been acquitted in the court of law but in the public eye she is very much still guilty and undergoes constant threats to the safety of herself and children.

After several moves and with the help of her hacker ally, Gwen and the kids have found a place to possibly settle down. A small community in Tennessee called Stillhouse Lake. While Gwen works from home, her kids have a chance for a somewhat normal life by attending a new school and even making some friends. Although their new home provides a sense of security, the family is never truly safe. One slip up could blow their new identities, Gwen receives constant death threats per day, and Melvin still attempts to communicate with her through writing letters. It’s only a matter of time before they will have to pack only what they can carry and move far away from Stillhouse Lake.

That time might be sooner than they think. A body has been discovered in the lake directly in front of Gina’s front door. Her wounds, cause of death, and disposal method are all too familiar – it is exactly like Melvin’s. Due to her past life and proximity to the body, Gina is a prime suspect and must once again go to great lengths to prove herself innocent. Everyone who she might have trusted seems to give her reasons not to and she is all alone. Gina’s only goal is to keep her children safe and all ties will be cut from them if she is arrested. Could her ex-husband be the cause of this crime even from jail? Or is Gina not as innocent as she claims to be? Read Stillhouse Lake to find out!

Prior to cracking this book open, I had a very lackluster reading experience with No Exit by Taylor Adams. Stillhouse Lake was a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed it very much! This book was a slow burn at first which I can often find to be very tiresome. However, when the scene was set and the pace picked up, it transformed into nonstop action in a true cat and mouse game. While I had an inkling as to who the cats could be, there was one in particular that was especially shocking and it completely blindsided me. I fancy myself an amateur detective and pride myself on figuring out grand reveals prior to so I absolutely love a twist that I didn’t see coming.

What I really liked about Stillhouse Lake is that it left me with more questions than answers. This is a seven book series and I could tell that Rachel Caine was carefully planting the seeds for future plot points throughout the book. I am so excited to read Killman Creek next! What I do know, is that Gwen Proctor is a leading lady who is not to be messed with. Her strength, tenacity, and quick thinking never faltered even in unspeakable danger. She was brusque but her love for her children radiated off of the pages and created plot turns that felt like a punch in the gut. This is the beginning of Rachel Caine expertly crafting our key players in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel!

Overall, I am going to rate Stillhouse Lake with an eight out of ten stars. This was an incredibly strong opening to a lengthy series and I am SO in!

Have you read the Stillhouse Lake series? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr29

Crop Top Cutie OOTD Bloopers

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Crop Top Cutie OOTD Bloopers

Greetings, earthlings! How are you? I am currently in a state of freaking annoyed AF, thanks for asking. As I began typing this, a freaking fly that has posted up in my apartment was doing acrobatics around my head and it is driving me absolutely batty! It is seriously the most lousy roommate ever SMH. Woo… *Deep breaths* Okay! I know I could use a laugh so let’s get to this Blooper Reel, baby! Take a look at these yikes shots from my Crop Top Cutie OOTD:

Johnny is a master photographer ❤

Time and time again, he always captures me from my good side

Just standing here looking pissed about something or another

Caught in the headlights lol

Looking like that horror movie Smile lol say cheese!

I am an avid bookworm and try my best to finish at least two or so books per month. Whenever I have any spare time during the day, you can almost always catch me with my nose in a book! This past week, I began reading a book called Darkwater Lane by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan and was very intrigued by the plot. Then, about sixty pages in, I realized that something wasn’t quite adding up. Throughout the first handful of pages I read, the author was referring to plot points and characters that seemed important. I assumed that it would be clarified later but it kept on happening. And, as you all know, assume makes an ass out of U and ME!

Once I was fed up enough with feeling out of the loop, I decided to give the book a little Google and *face palm*. It’s no wonder nothing was making sense because it was the last book in a seven book series lololol. In my defense, there was literally nothing on the back of this book or its first few pages to indicate that it was part of a series so how was I supposed to know? In hindsight, I should have looked it up earlier but I was already invested! On the bright side, I have a new series to read and got the first book, Stillhouse Lake, from the library. Stay tuned for a Lil Red’s Book Club review coming soon and, in conclusion, SMFH.

This book blunder was a definite whoopsy daisy on my end so I guess the moral of the story is: Always check if you are starting a book at the end of a series first lol!

What is your favorite book series? Have you ever started a series not at the beginning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Lil Red’s Book Club: No Exit By Taylor Adams Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: No Exit By Taylor Adams 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 Taylor Adams called No Exit. I recently read Her Last Breath by the same author and really enjoyed it so I wanted to read more of her work. Unfortunately, No Exit was very lackluster and it was honestly a really difficult read to get through. You will be able to tell by the big fat trigger warning I’ll be placing for sexual assault, animal cruelty, graphic violence, disturbing content, and life threatening illness. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Darby had absolutely no intention of returning home for Christmas. However, her mom is very sick and cryptic texts from her sister about their mom’s condition put Darby in her beat up car to drive to Utah from Colorado. All she has to do is beat the incoming snowstorm in her ancient ride. As Darby drives towards her estranged family, Snowpacolypse begins in full force and she must stop at a remote rest station off the highway because the weather won’t allow her to go any further. At the rest stop, there are four other weary travelers. Ed and Sandi who are cousins, a strange man named Lars, and talkative Ashley. All of them stranded for the night until the snow plows clear the way.

Cell service is shot but Ashley tells Darby that there is a certain area in the parking lot where he was able to grab one blessed bar. Darby trudges through the cold and snow to search for service so she can let her mom and sister know the change of plans. The phone call doesn’t happen but as she walks back to the rest stop, she notices something in the back of one of the vans in the lot. A little hand. Surely her exhaustion had her seeing things so she goes back into the warmth to formulate a plan on the off chance that there really is a life at stake.

Under the guise of looking for service once more, Darby returns outside and her worst fears are confirmed. There is a little girl in the back of the van and her name is Jay. She is confined, bleeding, and dirty and someone in that rest stop is responsible for it. The snow is falling fast and there is no way out for another ten plus hours. All Darby needs to do is get the girl to safety and survive the night amongst a handful of possible kidnappers. What happens next? A deadly game of cat and mouse. A game that Darby has to play all alone because she can trust no one or let her guard down for even a second. Will Darby and Jay escape the rest stop in the morning? Or will someone in the rest stop get away with an unspeakable crime? Read No Exit to find out!

As I started reading No Exit, I was loving it. The plot was gripping and urgent and Darby was a remarkable heroine. It was twisty, downright terrifying, and every passing second felt like an eternity as Darby tried to figure out what to do next. Then, when the identity of the kidnapper was revealed, it all became too much. The criminal was the definition of a sadist and all of that suspense turned into something far more disturbing. Every risk that Darby took was foiled and as the kidnapper delighted and let their true colors come forward, No Exit became increasingly hard to read. Indeed, this book is NOT for the faint of heart.

For all of the horrible things in this book, the one redemption it had was Darby. She. Was. AWESOME! Darby was a bit of a thing at barely over five feet tall and she was scrappy as hell. I was so there for it! As she stared literal monsters down, she never faltered. She was calm, cool, and kept her head the whole way through. The criminal played checkers while Darby played chess. Thinking one step ahead, risking her life, and taking pride in being Jay’s guardian angel. Every time a plan failed, she came back swinging and it was impossible not to root for her. Darby was an excellent leading lady but it just wasn’t enough to make me say that this book was good. No Exit coasted on shock value alone and it was not the reading experience I expected after Her Last Breath.

Overall, I am going to rate No Exit with a two out of ten stars. For all of the good of Darby, there was just too much awful in this book for me to recommend it. This is one you can definitely skip on!

What did you think of No Exit if you have read it before? Did you see the movie on Hulu? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Lil Red’s Book Club: Listen For The Lie By Amy Tintera Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Listen For The Lie By Amy Tintera 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 excellent thriller by Amy Tintera called Listen For The Lie. This book went back and forth between the past, present day, and a true crime podcast which I really liked. It actually reminded me a bit of None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell if you have read that one before! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Listen For The Lie for domestic violence and murder. You ready? Let’s get to it!

Lucy doesn’t think she killed her best friend Savannah (Savvy), but she doesn’t know for sure. All she remembers from that night five years ago is being found in the middle of the road by a good Samaritan, injured, and covered in her best friend’s blood. The rest is a complete blank for Lucy but that’s no matter because according to everyone in her small town, she is guilty regardless of if there wasn’t enough evidence for a conviction. After Savvy’s death, Lucy hightailed it to L.A. and never looked back. But, now, she must return back to Nowhere, Texas for her grandma’s birthday. Although Lucy can’t stand her parents, she loves her grandma despite the guilt trip she laid on her to attend her party.

An eightieth birthday bash isn’t the only thing waiting for Lucy in Texas. In fact, it is everything that Lucy never wanted to happen. A popular podcast called Listen For The Lie has taken an interest in Savvy’s cold case. During the show’s first season the host, Ben, solved an unsolvable case and is looking to repeat his success in Texas. Ben is going into this experience from a neutral position. Maybe Lucy killed Savvy. Maybe she didn’t. But, if Lucy didn’t, he is determined to find out who and leaves no stone unturned.

As Ben conducts his own investigation, he talks to anyone and everyone. Lucy’s grandma, Savvy’s family, Lucy’s high school best friend, and even her monstrous ex husband. And, after some convincing and a nudge from her grandma, Ben interviews Lucy too. Lucy is not much help at first. She can’t remember a thing about Savvy’s death and she is keeping her late friend’s secrets even though it could benefit her. Then, bits and pieces of that fateful night begin to form. Fragments start out as fuzzy and in a moment of shocking clarity, she knows exactly who the guilty party is. Who is responsible for Savvy’s death? Read Listen For The Lie to find out!

I really, really enjoyed Listen For The Lie and it was a wonderful change of pace from Gone Before Goodbye, the last book I finished. While the latter moved at an often agonizing speed, Listen For The Lie was fast paced from start to finish. In fact, it was so good that I finished it in two sittings. The way this book sprinted forward, I just had to keep up with it! Listen For The Lie featured shocking twists and turns, a fascinating plot, and a huge tip of the cap to the true crime podcast fandom. I loved reading the podcast portion at the end of almost every chapter and it was a huge motivation to keep on reading!

The best part of this book, however, was Lucy herself. She is my kind of leading lady and I could not get enough of her. Lucy was sarcastic, freaking hilarious, and a take no shit kind of girl. Her attitude was that people were going to stare at her and talk about her so let them. If they think she killed her friend, let them. It had no impact on her whatsoever and her only goal was to help solve Savvy’s case, even if she ended up in jail. She was so easy to root for and while her feisty spirit was all well and good, her fleeting moments of tenderness helped solidify her as one of my favorite main characters to date. She will have you laughing out loud and cheering her on too – I just know it.

Overall, I am going to award Listen For The Lie with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This thriller was a blast and will leave you guessing whodoneit the whole way through. Highly recommend!

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

Apr7

Lil Red’s Book Club: Gone Before Goodbye By Reese Witherspoon And Harlan Coben Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Gone Before Goodbye By Reese Witherspoon And Harlan Coben 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 called Gone Before Goodbye cowritten by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben. This book revolved around a top secret mission that was a definite change of pace from my normal Lifetime Movie books and it was actually pretty good! I wouldn’t say it’s the best book I ever read but it held my attention from start to finish because it was just so different from what I usually read. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Gone Before Goodbye for combat missions, graphic violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Former Doctor Maggie McCabe is down on her luck big time. Her beloved husband, Marc, was killed during a humanitarian medical mission and life has been spiraling rapidly since. A pill addiction caused her to lose her license and she is currently living with her sister while they each face crippling debt. Then, an opportunity falls into her lap that is too good to say no to. Evan Barlow, her old mentor requested that he pay her a visit at his ultra luxe cosmetic surgery office so he could offer her a job. One that is a little unorthodox but it would completely eliminate her family’s debt and relieve her of her medical malpractice suit. All she has to do is go to Russia and perform surgeries on a rich and powerful man and his girlfriend, ensure their stability after surgery, and go back to America.

With no time to think about any repercussions, Maggie immediately hops a private plane to Russia to meet her new employers. Upon landing, she is taken to a remote wooded area with a sprawling palace right in the middle. The home of Oleg Ragoravich, a reclusive oligarch, and his young girlfriend, Nadia. The palace boasts priceless art, an Olympic sized pool, a garage full of dream cars, and a surgical wing straight out of Johns Hopkins. She will be performing a breast augmentation on Nadia and several facial surgeries for Oleg. While this seems questionable, Maggie is the perfect candidate. She is the best that money can buy but unlicensed and therefore her discretion for the matter at hand will be without a doubt.

The surgeries are each performed to the highest standard and then, everything goes to hell in a hand basket. As Nadia recovers, Maggie notices a mark that ties her directly to her deceased husband. And, in that moment, Oleg flees the makeshift medical facility. Security guards swarm the palace while Maggie’s head swims. Is this powerful family more connected to Maggie than she knows? Was Marc simply a casualty of war or was his death the result of something far more sinister? Read Gone Before Goodbye to find out!

Gone Before Goodbye was completely far fetched. Lol, there. I said it. Was it a lot of fun to read, though? Absolutely! This twisty novel read like a spy thriller and, although it took me a fair bit of time to get into it, I eventually was so in for the ride. Gone Before Goodbye had it all. Shocking grand reveals, a revolving door joining past and present, and secrets that would shake Maggie to her core. Maggie’s new gig put her in an impossible situation as soon as she agreed to it and when things went sideways, it was up to her to save herself.

Maggie McCabe was a formidable leading woman who had the smarts, guts, and level head of the most seasoned spy. Through the brilliant mind of a world renowned surgeon, she was able to begin putting together the puzzle she found herself in. Maggie went from seeking redemption from these surgeries to demanding answers about her husband’s death. And, she was redeemed. She went from a woman with grief permeating off of her to a bonafide badass. It didn’t matter to Maggie if this job killed her so she had nothing to lose. As the reader, all I could do was hang on tight to see what happened next!

Overall, I am going to rate Gone Before Goodbye with a six out of ten stars. I’m glad I read it in the name of trying something different but it wasn’t my favorite. This is a book you could take or leave!

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

Mar30

Lil Red’s Book Club: It’s Not Her By Mary Kubica Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: It’s Not Her By Mary Kubica 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 an excellent thriller by Mary Kubica called It’s Not Her. Although there were several parts of this book that were very hard to read, it was completely unputdownable and I finished it in three sittings. I am definitely interested in reading more by Kubica and plan on starting with Local Woman Missing as It’s Not Her was one of the best thrillers I have read all year. Before we begin, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this book for graphic violence, sexual violence, mental health disorders, and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

It’s family vacation time! Courtney and her husband Elliott and daughter Cass will be having a joint vacation with Courtney’s brother Nolan, his wife Emily, and three children named Reese, Wyatt, and Mae. Their getaway takes place in the remote woods of Wisconsin in a resort along the lake. Resort might be a far stretch for their destination as it’s pretty ramshackle but it will be home for the next few weeks. Mae and Cass are close in age and spend their days joined at the hip. The adults drink and have grown up conversations while Wyatt does whatever fourteen year old boys do. Meanwhile, Reese can be found wallowing in the misery of all of this family time until a young man named Daniel makes her do a double take.

The vacation is, indeed, in full swing. Until it gets cut short. After Cass and Mae enjoy a slumber party in Courtney and Elliott’s cabin, Mae makes her way back to her family with a belly full of pancakes and a smile on her face. A few minutes later, she runs screaming back to Courtney and Elliott’s place. Mae has discovered the deceased bodies of her mom and dad. Reese is nowhere to be found and Wyatt managed to sleep through the entire ordeal. Courtney returns to the grisly scene and it is so much worse than she could ever imagine. Her brother and sister-in-law have been slain brutally and Reese could be anywhere dead or alive.

A police investigation immediately follows and there is not much to go off of. There are no leads to point to the murderer and no traces of Reese after extensive searches. All the while, Courtney, Elliott, Wyatt, Mae, and Cass are holed up in a tiny cabin and are not allowed to leave. Courtney can not handle the stagnation and decides to do her own investigating in her determination to bring Reese home. However, the clues that she finds only incriminates those closest to her. How could Wyatt sleep through the murder of his parents? And why is there blood on her husband’s shoes? As the days drag on, Reese is nowhere closer to being found until Courtney discovers a major break in the case. Who is responsible for this terrible crime? And will Reese be alive to tell the tale? Read It’s Not Her to find out!

It’s Not Her was a wild ride from start to finish. It was harrowing, heartbreaking, and So. Freaking. Twisty! Just when I thought I had a feel for what might have happened, Mary Kubica’s expert writing pulled the rug out from under me. And it kept happening again, and again, and again. I always love when I can figure out a grand reveal. I love it even more when I can’t, though, and the final twist left me absolutely shook. It has been a few days since I finished It’s Not Her and I still can’t stop thinking about it.

I very much enjoyed Kubica’s writing style because it was so raw. She kept the punches coming rapidly and interspersed them with such tender moments that the next blow would feel even more heart wrenching. Every dead end was a kick to the gut. The agony of every passing day with Reese missing was palpable and every single Red Herring felt infuriating. It’s Not Her will leave you questioning your own ideas as to what happened with each turn of the page until you have no idea what to think. And, when you learn the truth, you will be just as shocked as me.

I am going to award It’s Not Her with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a dynamite introduction into Mary Kubica’s work and if her other books are anything like this, then I know I am in for a treat. Highly recommend!

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

Mar18

Lil Red’s Book Club: Her Last Breath By Taylor Adams Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Her Last Breath By Taylor Adams 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 excellent thriller by Taylor Adams called Her Last Breath. I pride myself on being an amateur detective and often figure out the grand reveal in the books that I read. Not with this one! The surprise twist left me absolutely shook and kept me turning the pages at a rapid pace. This is easily one of the best thrillers I have read in months! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Her Last Breath for highly disturbing content in police cases, child abuse, and graphic violence. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Tess and Allie have been best friends since childhood and it all started with a punch to the face. In grade school, a boy was bullying Tess and Allie responded with a slug that resulted in a split lip. They were inseparable ever since. While Tess is meek and shy, Allie is a take no nonsense kind of girl. She says what’s on her mind and has an adventurous spirit. So much so that she created an empire on thrifty solo travel. Her favorite activity, though? Going caving. That’s right, exploring the depths of the earth where catastrophe can happen at any step.

Allie has finally convinced Tess to join her for a caving expedition and it is all systems go. Both women might not be as close as they were in their childhood and they consider this trip a way to make up for lost time. After a hike through the woods to get to their location, they enter the cave and are greeted by a stranger a few paces in. He claims to be from Green Ridge to evaluate bats in the cave for an infection called white nose syndrome. Then, he asks Tess and Allie if he could join them on their adventure as an unofficial guide. He is making both of them uncomfortable and Allie promptly tells him to f off and they go on their way.

There are three people in the cave and only one will make it out alive. The stranger is, of course, not with Green Ridge at all and he is on the hunt. In the depths of the cave, they meet again and all hell breaks loose. There is no way out except to return the way that they came. But that’s not necessarily true. There is another way out that has yet to be explored. A chasm called Worse Than Death with impossibly small crawl spaces that just might allow you to see daylight again. If you can fit. In the dark of the cave, everything is not what it seems and the hunted might become the hunters yet. Who will make it out on the other side? Read Her Last Breath to find out.

I have been reading a fair amount of Freida McFadden books as of late and Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams was a delicious change of pace. The plot was fascinating, the twists were insane, and it was very well written. The best part of this book though has got to be the setting. I am so used to reading books that take place on earth – not under it! The majority of Her Last Breath took place in the cave and I could literally feel the claustrophobia as I read. Caves are dangerous and one wrong step can result in injury or for the ground to shift. As Tess and Allie made their way deeper and deeper, I couldn’t help but to hold my breath. Between the darkness, tight squeezes, and a dangerous man on their tail I just knew something bad was going to happen. It was only a matter of when.

I really can’t say too much about Her Last Breath because I want you to be just as surprised as I was if you read it. Just know that you are in for a treat! Although I love being able to solve the riddles in books, I love it even more when I can’t. Taylor Adams crafted the ultimate thriller and it sounds silly but it really did thrill me. At the end of the day, books that fall under the thriller/suspense category are a dime a dozen and eventually they all start to be the same. Her Last Breath was unlike anything I have ever read before and I can’t wait to read more by Taylor Adams. I have a very good feeling about her other books!

Overall, I am going to award Her Last Breath with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This book was ingenious from start to finish and I cannot stop thinking about it!

Have you read any of Taylor Adams’ books? What did you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar2

Lil Red’s Book Club: Ward D By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Ward D 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 thriller by Freida McFadden called Ward D. Freida McFadden’s books have always fell under my “just okay” category. They are quick reads and twisty but are they mind blowing? No. Are they far fetched? Always! However, Ward D was probably one of the best books that I have read by her and landed under my “pretty good” ranking. Honestly, it’s quite a boost! Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Ward D for mental health, child abuse, disturbing content, and graphic violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Amy is a medical student and tonight she is scheduled to work and learn in Ward D, the mental health unit of the local hospital. It’s not that she’s nervous or anything. More like terrified. It will be the night shift in a locked ward with people who are potentially dangerous. Her biggest fear, though? Being mistaken for a patient as Amy has had her own share of mental health issues too. It’s safe to say that Amy has no interest in studying psychiatry further, but it’s just for one night. All she needs to do is make it through.

After being buzzed into the locked ward, Amy gets the lay of the land from Dr. Beck and nurse Ramona. It would be a relatively quiet night in Ward D but there is a glaring issue. A dangerous patient is in one of the seclusion rooms and will be transferred to a more secure setting in the morning. All of the other patients are fearful of him and have made this perfectly clear to Amy with claims that he is going to kill all of them this very night. Dr. Beck’s advice? Stay far away.

The atmosphere in Ward D is tense with patients acting out and it only gets worse. There is a ghost of Amy’s past who is also a patient tonight. Her name is Jade and she was Amy’s best friend in the world until the girls turned sixteen. Jade went from a good girl to an absolute wild child in a matter of years and put Amy into a lot of problematic situations. Some would result in a grounding or possibly a suspension from school. Others would put both girls behind bars. Since then, Amy has turned her life around and is fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor. Jade, on the other hand, has been in and out of mental health wards for the past eight years.

Between the stress of the patients and the fear that Jade might reveal Amy’s darkest secret, her own mental health begins to deteriorate swiftly. Amy begins seeing shadows, hearing animal like noises from the seclusion room, and even seeing blood on the floor. Is she hallucinating or is something far more sinister happening on Ward D? As the night continues, coworkers and patients alike seem to have simply disappeared. Amy no longer has to get through the night but survive it. Will she evade the man in the seclusion room? Or is this just all in her head? Read Ward D to find out!

One of my biggest qualms with Freida McFadden books are their lack of originality. They all read like plots of thriller books that I have read before with sloppy twists that feel like an afterthought. This, combined with the far fetched nature of her plots has always made her books lackluster for me. Ward D, however, actually read like something new and made for an unputdownable experience. I finished the book in a day! Although I figured out all of the twists and turns in Ward D, is was still a refreshing read with a plot that I was actually interested in that took place in a unique setting.

Ward D was definitely a page turner and I really liked that it all transpired in the course of one night shift. It made the situation at hand feel so much more dire because you just knew that something major was going to happen as the hours counted down. This book also flip flopped to eight years prior which gave a chance to learn more about Amy and Jade’s friendship as well as the hallucinations that Amy suffered from. These flashbacks made Amy shift into an unreliable narrator to the point that it was hard to tell what was real at all. I would never call myself a huge McFadden fan but she was onto something with Ward D!

Overall, I am going to rate Ward D with a six out of ten stars. This is the highest I have ranked any of McFadden’s work since reading The Housemaid series and I have no problems with recommending this book!

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

Feb28

Lil Red’s Book Club: The First Time I Saw Him By Laura Dave Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The First Time I Saw Him By Laura Dave 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 sequel to Laura Dave’s thriller, The Last Thing He Told Me, called The First Time I Saw Him. I read The Last Thing He Told Me five years ago and I have to admit that I don’t remember much of it. However, I guess I liked it well enough because I gave it an eight out of ten stars in my review! Perhaps I would have liked the sequel more if I had a better recollection of its predecessor because The First Time I Saw Him really missed the mark for me. There is no content in this book that requires a trigger warning so let’s get right to it:

It has been over five years since Hannah’s husband, Owen, has disappeared off of the face of the earth due to providing evidence against a dangerous crime organization. It was all for the safety of Hannah and his daughter Bailey and they have been rebuilding the pieces of their lives since he vanished. Bailey is now a college graduate and Hannah is still making fantastic pieces of hand carved furniture. They have also grown very close to Bailey’s maternal grandfather, Nicholas, who was also part of the crime syndicate that Owen turned against. Nicholas also played an integral role in protecting Hannah and Bailey. After decades of loyalty to the big boss, he left with the promise that as long as Nicholas is alive that no harm would come to those he loves.

Unfortunately, that promise is swiftly broken upon Nicholas’s passing and the crime family wants blood. They still hold a grudge towards Owen for his betrayal and as he is in hiding, the only way to get to him is to get to Hannah and Bailey first. Almost as soon as the death of Nicholas is announced on the news, snatchers from the organization are deployed to Hannah and Bailey’s homes. Luckily, they have prepared for this situation for a long time. They hoped that their plan of escape would never have to happen but they are now thrust into it with both of their lives on the line.

Hannah and Bailey are on the run and the name of the game is to get as far away from their usual haunts as possible. Through back roads, safe houses, and the help of a friend with a private jet, they end up in France. Who they meet upon their arrival is certainly not who they were expecting but their help could provide the protection they need and a way to find Owen again. While Hannah and Bailey prepared and perfected their escape plan for over half a decade, other plans were being made too. Plans for a last ditch effort should the truce between Nicholas and his former employer no longer be honored. Hannah and Bailey have one final go at a normal life with or without Owen. Will the help from an unlikely ally see it through? Or will the family they could be simply vanish? Read The First Time I Saw Him to find out!

The only thing I really remember from The Last Thing He Told Me was essentially a wild goose chase. Hannah and Bailey on the run, their initial poor relationship, plans being made, plans changing, and the ever watchful organization hot on their tail. The First Time I Saw Him was basically the same thing minus Hannah and Bailey being besties now. Regardless of how long it has been since I read the first book, I had the nagging feeling as I read its sequel that I have read it all before. The bones of The First Time I Saw Him were so similar to its predecessor that it felt more like a review than a brand new book.

What I remember liking the most about The Last Thing He Told Me was its sense of urgency that was so palpable on each page. Both Hannah and Bailey had no idea what was happening as they avoided peril and I could feel their anxiety so clearly. That swell of emotion was just not there as I read The First Time I Saw Him because its plot had already been done before. Yes, it was scary that Hannah and Bailey were put in this situation once again but it was also such a crazy story that it felt like a really bold move to rinse and repeat it. While I enjoyed Laura Dave’s writing, the sense of deja vu was much too prominent and The First Time I Saw Him felt like something borrowed over something new. This might sound harsh but it just felt like a lazy effort on Laura Dave’s part and I was happy to be done with the book or, rather, the CliffsNotes of the first one.

Overall, I am going to rate The First Time I Saw Him with a three out of ten stars. It was well written but that didn’t save the repeat plot one bit!

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