Tag Archives: review

Feb1

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

Posted on by
Standard
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

Jan28

Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer In Silver Lake Review

Posted on by
Standard
Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer In Silver Lake Review

Hello! Isn’t it the worst when you run out of a bunch of expensive things at the same time? That was very much the case for me this past weekend and I needed to make a trip to Sephora to rectify it. After fixing my face with an MOTD, I was completely out of my beloved Better Than Sex mascara as well as my favorite highlighter. I was also on the hunt for a replacement for one of my makeup staples – the radiance beads from The Body Shop that I loved so very much but are no longer available. Thanks to the help of an excellent employee, I found everything I needed and am so amped to use two new to me products. You can peep a review of the Rare Beauty highlighter soon but today we are going to chat about the fabulous Face Bond Luminizer in Swan Lake by Urban Decay:

^^^ I also got a few samples of luminizers by Fenty too. We’ll review those soon!

Visit my TikTok for the full video!

I am not a makeup girl whatsoever. I like what I like, I get it on repeat, and that’s that. At Sephora, I was really hoping to find an exact match to the radiance beads I have used for forever. Unfortunately, they didn’t have anything remotely similar so I had to venture into the world of liquid makeup for the very first time. I don’t use concealer or foundation and even just a liquid luminizer was outside of my comfort zone. However, after trying the Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer more extensively at home, I am pleased to report that it really is the perfect dupe to my favorite fallen product.

The Silver Lake luminizer is oh so pretty and provided exactly what my radiance beads did. It gave an overall glitter and glow. The only difference is that I applied it with my hands rather than a blush brush! A dime sized dollop allowed for full face and neck coverage and it was so lightweight that I genuinely forgot it was even on. That was a huge plus as I never want my makeup to look heavy and that can sometimes be the case with liquid makeup. This luminizer can be worn on its own or to complete the rest of your MOTD. It was a bit pricey at thirty-four dollars so I don’t think I will be wearing it as a stand alone often. Although I wouldn’t say no to it when I am looking (And feeling!) extra tired in the morning for a little radiance pick me up. Highly recommend!

This may not seem like a big purchase but it was very exciting for me. It’s always fun to try something new and I am beyond happy to have found the best possible replacement to my radiance beads!

What is your favorite brand of makeup? Do you shop Sephora often? 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

Posted on by
Standard
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

Jan24

Groovy Movies: Zootopia 2 Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Groovy Movies: Zootopia 2 Edition

Hi! This past weekend was full of entertainment for me. Some excellent and some that actively sucked – just take a look at yesterday’s Stereophonic review lol. On Friday, I took my big nieces to see Zootopia 2 together and we had the best time. My bestie girls and I love going to the movies. Of course, we all love the snacks but that time spent watching a show together on the big screen, laughing, and cheering the characters on can’t be beat! I have to admit that I don’t remember the first Zootopia very well as it has been several years since I watched it with my oldest niece. However, that did not deter from my enjoyment of its sequel one bit. It was such fun! Let’s discuss:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Thanks to the ingenious invention of weather walls to control the climate, Zootopia is a home for all creatures big and small. All creatures except for snakes, of course. Snakes have not been seen in Zootopia since forever and any member of the reptile family is looked down upon. However, after Judy and Nick make a bust at a loading dock, they believe that a snake has touched down in Zootopia after finding its shed skin. No one believes their discovery as a snake being in Zootopia would be simply impossible, but Judy and Nick work the case anyway. Through their detective work, they learn that the snake might be going to a gala to celebrate Zootopia’s centennial anniversary. It’s time for them to go undercover.

The party is hosted by a powerful family of lynxes who are descendants of Zootopia’s original founder. Our snake friend named Gary would say otherwise and that is why he is in Zootopia. To prove that the lynx family are frauds and to help his own family who has been in hiding since they took something very important away. A journal that would show where the original patent for the weather walls is located. A patent not created by the lynxes at all. Gary manages to get the journal back but in the chaos Judy and Nick are accused of aiding him. Now, they are all on the run to clear their names.

With the help of countless new friends, the unlikely trio sets to work to solve the mystery of the missing patent. They race across Zootopia seeking information about how it was founded and just what happened to all of the reptiles. And, wouldn’t you know that there was a time when they coexisted with the other animals peacefully despite their differences? Little does Judy and Nick know, the real snakes are not the snakes at all. If the patent is not found, there will be nowhere safe for the reptiles to go and the powerful will remain so based on a farce. Will Judy, Nick, and Gary save the day and make Zootopia a home for all once more? Watch the movie and find out!

From start to finish, Zootopia 2 was an absolute blast. It was hilarious, exciting, and had an all star cast to voice all of Zootopia’s inhabitants. Not to mention that the adults in the audience would find shocking similarities to our current political times. It was incredibly apparent and I was living for it. But the best thing about Zootopia 2 is its message. That being different isn’t a bad thing. It’s a beautiful thing that makes the world colorful and special. And when you dare to be different and let your true self shine is when magic and changes can happen.

I wasn’t sure if my girl squad was going to sit through Zootopia 2 in its entirety without getting the jitters. It was a bit longer at one hour and fifty minutes and I sometimes get the jitters with too long movies! That was not the case in the slightest. This movie completely held our attention and I think we were all a little sad when it was over. Zootopia 2 was an amazing family flick that will be just as enjoyable for the adults as it is for the children. Highly recommend!

My Zootopia 2 outing was a ten out of ten stars experience hands down. We all loved it and are planning on watching the first one together next time!

What is your favorite animated movie? Have you seen anything at the theater recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan23

Stereophonic At Playhouse Square

Posted on by
Standard
Stereophonic At Playhouse Square

Hello! This past Saturday Johnny and I had a hilarious little adventure “seeing” Stereophonic at Playhouse Square. We got dolled up (Peep my OOTD soon!), had a delicious lunch at El Meson, and headed to Cleveland for a matinee showing. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Stereophonic, it is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac’s recording process for their album, Rumours. Johnny and I thought we definitely could get down with that. Unfortunately, we definitely could not lol. Let’s discuss:

Whenever I attend a show at Playhouse Square, I expect excellence. My main squeeze and I have been lucky enough to go to so many wonderful performances there and it’s extremely rare for us to not enjoy ourselves. I guess there is a first time for everything (Minus a silly blip when we saw Les Mis and left) because, pardon my French, but Stereophonic sucked ass. In fact, I was so immediately not into it that I almost whispered to Johnny that we should leave five seconds in. If you are interested in Stereophonic from the music perspective, just know that that’s not what you’re going to get. Rather, you are in for a whole lot of meaningless chatter.

I would say that Johnny and I got about twenty-five minutes into Stereophonic before I pulled the plug and we hightailed it. In that time, all we saw was a bunch of people talking over themselves, getting drugged and boozed up, and having conversations that meant nothing to the task at hand. That being, recording an album. It was very difficult to even know who was speaking as the characters were spread out between the studio and the lounge area. The audio was very disjointed and even if we cared to follow along with the dialogue, it felt like it was just voices in the air rather than seeing the cast speak. If that makes sense?

All Johnny and I wanted was to hear a song and leave. Roughly twenty minutes in, the drummer laid down a killer beat and we were like okay, let’s go. Then, he stopped and the incessant chit chat commenced once more. Five minutes later, we were literally like okay, let’s go and left lol. From my understanding, a hefty portion of the audience dipped out at intermission and I applaud them for holding out that long. They have far more strength and mental fortitude than Johnny and I could muster that afternoon.

When we returned home, plenty of ads for Stereophonic were on my Facebook and I took the time to read some of the comments left for Playhouse Square. I would say about seventy percent of them were in the negative with complaints that included: Too much talking, too slow a pace, not enough music, and the final nail in the coffin – that they just didn’t care. On the positive end of comments, others were saying that it was like being a fly on the wall to watch the creative process. These comments begged the question – Were we even watching the same show? From start to twenty-five minutes later, Stereophonic was exhausting and I cannot speak about it poorly enough!

If you are expecting a rocking Fleetwood Mac-esque musical with Stereophonic, do not and I repeat: DO NOT bother. This was easily the worst production I have seen in my extensive span of Playhouse Square shows. Very disappointing!

What are your thoughts on Stereophonic? Are you seeing anything at the theater soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan21

Bath & Body Works January Freebie

Posted on by
Standard
Bath & Body Works January Freebie

Hello! My mom joined me during my afternoon break last Tuesday for a shopping trip and we had the best time! I had gift cards to spend, supplies for the bunnies to get, and a freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works to cash in. At B&BW it was out with the old post Semi Annual Sale and in with all kinds of new fragrances. Normally I like to get a travel size lotion or body wash as my free item but I could not resist a fragrance spray in a new scent called Zesty Peach. Check it out:

Outside of my deep love for all things vanilla, I am a fruity fragrance girl through and through. I like deep berry scents but my all time favorites have got to be apple and peach. It is rare for me to find an apple scent that misses the mark. However, peach is a different story. I want my fruit fragrances to be a mix of sweet and tart and sometimes peach scents can be overly sweet. Zesty Peach is a complete game changer and it reminds me so much of The Body Shop’s Vineyard Peach line. In fact, if you read this old review on my page, I even say that it’s a peach scent that’s not overpoweringly sweet. Some things never change!

Zesty Peach offers fragrance notes of “peach nectar, sugar crystals, and luminous musk”. Also, after typing that sentence I did a resmell of the perfume and accidentally inhaled most of it. All the better to describe it with, my dear! I cannot speak for the sugar crystals or luminous musk and feel that B&BW should have left the description as “peach” lol. You know that scent that comes immediately after biting into a peach? Zesty Peach is that to the T! It errs on the side of tart over sweet and I just can’t get enough of it. If you are a peachy person, you are going to adore this scent. 😀

It may be grey and snowy here in Akron, Ohio but Zesty Peach is summertime in a bottle. A perfect pick me up!

What is your favorite kind of fragrance? Have you tried any of B&BW’s new scents? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan18

Dr. Wellness Vitamin C Moisturizer Review

Posted on by
Standard
Dr. Wellness Vitamin C Moisturizer Review

Howdy! I started using a new Vitamin C moisturizer by Dr. Wellness at the beginning of December. I was excited to give it a shot because I have used that brand’s lip balm in the past and loved it. I honestly had no idea that Dr. Wellness had skin care staples too and got to test it out for a song. A huge tub was only five dollars and I am nowhere near done. That’s great for me because this Vitamin C moisturizer is the bomb.com. Fingers crossed that TJs has it again when I do my annual Christmas gift card skin care restock. I’ll buy the lot! 😀

Completing my morning and night skin care routine is something that brings me peace. Those extra five minutes to pamper yourself and get started for the day or wind down at night. No matter what products I am using, I enjoy this time. However, it’s even better when I’m using one as nice as the Dr. Wellness moisturizer! Its texture is almost whipped and cloud like, it smells faintly like oranges, and a nickle sized dollop allows for full face and neck coverage. That’s what I’m talking about!

This moisturizer’s consistency is a bit thicker but it absorbs quickly and sits like a dream under makeup. It has been especially soothing and hydrating in the winter but could be used any time during the year and it would still be a pleasant experience. I have been using this moisturizer twice daily for over six weeks with wonderful results. My skin is so soft and I have noticed a huge radiance boost. That extra dose of brightness definitely perks me up during these grey January days! Highly recommend. 🙂

If you have a normal to dry skin type, you are going to love the Dr. Wellness Vitamin C moisturizer. A new year is the perfect time to freshen up your skin care routine!

What is your skin care routine like? What is your favorite skin care brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan17

Vampire Survivor

Posted on by
Standard
Vampire Survivor

Oh hey! The day after Christmas I couldn’t get to my computer fast enough to shop the Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale. I made out like a bandit and got seventeen products for sixty dollars! Johnny also did some shopping as PlayStation was having a sale. He fared incredibly well and got five or so games for around thirty dollars. While he bought a few recognizable game titles like Assassin’s Creed, the piece de resistance was something more obscure. A two dollar game called Vampire Survivor. Since Johnny’s purchase, we have been playing it nonstop and have gotten our money’s worth and then some. It’s great! Also be sure to check my TikTok for videos from Vampire Survivor too. 😀

Have you ever started playing a game and felt immediately overwhelmed by it? The game play, the rules, the items, the everything? Well, that is SO not the case for Vampire Survivor because literally all you do is walk. That’s right, you walk, choose items as you level up, and slay the demons in your path. That’s it and that’s all. And you know what? It’s awesome! Vampire Survivor is a game that anyone can play by simply picking up a controller. Classic gamers will love the highly visible nod to Castlevania (There’s a Castlevania expansion too!) and new players will enjoy its ease of play while still feeling like you are kicking major butt. No one can tell me nothin when I am playing Vampire Survivor!

Each level of Vampire Survivor has an end in sight. Survive thirty minutes and you win. Now, it might start out as easy but don’t let that fool you. You will need to be smart about which weapons you choose to defeat the masses and when they start crowding, they don’t stop until you are completely surrounded. The wrong weapons choice could be your downfall. Or it could be your saving grace when you level all of them up. Believe me, it looks amazing when you do! There is also legit nothing better than making it the full thirty minutes when you are backed into a corner and thousands of demons encircle you. 😀

If you are looking for an ultra fun game, then I truly cannot recommend Vampire Survivor enough. When Johnny and I first started playing, we were nowhere close to lasting through thirty minutes of a level. This wasn’t frustrating, though, and if anything it made us want to keep playing more to unlock better weapons and characters. Now, we can get through levels like it’s *almost* nothing and look forward to playing every day when we get home from work. Best two dollar purchase ever!

Johnny and I will be hibernating for the rest of the winter with Vampire Survivor and I can’t think of anything I’d rather do more!

What is your favorite video game? Have you played Vampire Survivor before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan16

Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of the newest horror flicks called Primate. When it comes to horror, I am not a huge fan of the creature genre and much prefer a good old fashioned slasher. However, Primate turned everything that I thought I knew on its head. This movie was absolutely insane from start to finish! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on Primate. The only words I can use to describe it are brutal and gruesome. It is not for the faint of heart! Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Lucy is a college student and is back in Hawaii with her dad, little sister, and a few friends who tagged along for summer break. She is also returning home to Ben, the family’s pet chimpanzee. Not the usual choice for a pet, but her deceased mother was a linguistics professor who was studying communication between humans and animals. One day she just brought Ben home and he has been a family staple since. He’s clever, silly, and completely harmless, right? So wrong. Ben recently got infected with rabies and his once beloved family is now his prey.

While Lucy and her friends enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, Ben begins his rampage and gravely injures her little sister. As he cannot go into the water, that is where they remain. But they can’t stay there forever and medical help is needed immediately for Lucy’s sister. The only thing that can be done is to get to a phone. Phones that are all in the house. Phones that they will have to get past Ben to use. His blood lust is palpable, his strength is unmatched, and his kill count is rising rapidly. Will Lucy be able to rescue what remains of her friend group? Or will Ben destroy his family in one night? Watch Primate to find out!

Long story short, Primate was a wild ride. I didn’t know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t all of that! About three minutes in is Ben’s first kill and if you thought that scene was bad, wait until you see the rest because holy shit lol. Brutal is seriously the only way to sum this movie up. I have seen countless horror movies in my day but I can’t recall any with kills that compare to Primate. Some of them were legit throw up worthy and all of it came from a pet chimpanzee.

I had to laugh when I saw the initial trailers for Primate that showed people in the theater reacting to the movie. It reminded me so much of when Paranormal Activity came out! In these trailers, the people watching Primate were jumping, screaming, and at the edge of their seats. My sentiments were exactly the same! My heart was pounding and my stomach was clenched for the entire duration of this one and a half hour powerhouse. Honestly, thank goodness it was a short movie because I genuinely don’t know how much more I could take and that’s really saying something!

Overall, I am going to award Primate with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a game changer to horror and not just the specific creature genre. Best of luck if you go to see it!

What were your thoughts on Primate if you have seen it? Are there any movies you are looking forward to seeing? 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

Posted on by
Standard
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