Book Review: "The Twilight Wife" By: A.J. Banner

Title: The Twilight Wife   By: A.J. Banner

Publication Date: 12/27/2016

Summary:

Thirty-four-year-old marine biologist Kyra Winthrop remembers nothing about the diving accident that left her with a complex form of memory loss. With only brief flashes of the last few years of her life, her world has narrowed to a few close friendships on the island where she lives with her devoted husband, Jacob.

But all is not what it seems. Kyra begins to have visions—or are they memories?—of a rocky marriage, broken promises, and cryptic relationships with the island residents, whom she believes to be her friends.

As Kyra races to uncover her past, the truth becomes a terrifying nightmare. A twisty, immersive thriller, The Twilight Wife will keep readers enthralled through the final, shocking twist. From www.amazon.com

Review:

I read a lot of amnesia-based psychological thrillers. If you read my blog, about half of the books I read seem to fit this category. I love the genre. I love putting myself in the mind of the main character and thinking how I would piece together the puzzle of their current life to figure out my past.

One thing I have learned is to not try to figure it all out, and just enjoy the journey. I’ve learned that it’s more fun to NOT try to read into every single cue that the author may drop as to hint to what's really going on.

This book was great. (I enjoyed “The Good Neighbor” as well (by the same author) and recommend that book if you have the time.) I read it in a few days; it kept my interest the whole time, and had a great twist that wasn’t completely obvious. This book really didn’t have a dull moment. I suppose it had moments that weren’t going-going-going, but I was never bored. (just like “The Good Neighbor”) The characters were well developed, I felt like I knew them and could predict them (or could I?). Highly recommended!

Read Date: 10/24/2016

Acquired From: NetGalley

Book Review: "Murder in Missoula" By: Laurence Giliotti

Title: Murder in Missoula   By: Laurence Giliotti

Publication Date: 09/19/2015

Summary:

Retired federal agent Joe Nicoletti is ready for a change. He dreams of a simple life, far away from Washington, D.C., where every street corner reminds him of his dead wife.

When he is offered a faculty position at the University of Montana, he sees it as a dream come true. A chance to start over.

He never dreamed he would have a second chance at love. He never dreamed he would become the prime suspect in a high profile murder case. He never dreamed he would be forced to undertake the most important investigation of his life. But dreams can turn into nightmares when there is Murder In Missoula.

A novel of love and attraction, both normal and perverse, friendship, sacrifice, ambition, innocence, dreams as harbingers of events to come, telepathy, clairvoyance, fate and destiny. All wrapped in a fast paced novel of murder and suspense.From www.amazon.com

Review:

The characters in this book were intriguing. Although I will admit at times I felt a little confused on who was the detective, who lived in Missoula, and who was visiting. Not sure if maybe there were too many characters? Maybe they weren’t all necessary for the plot? As the book went on I figured out who is who. Regardless, the story flowed, was fast-paced, and definitely kept me interested.

The main pitfall I found about the book was that I didn't understand the depth of the relationship between the two main characters, which was essentially the plot of the story. I just didn’t fell the breadth of their relationship.

One character was especially creepy, and I feel like I could have just read his fictional biography and been satisfied.

Overall, I liked this book. It was not as mainstream as many books I read. I have recommended it to friends and hope that if you are reading this review you will read it as well.

Read Date: 10/01/2016

Acquired From: NetGalley

Book Review: "The Girl from the Sea" By: Shalini Boland

Title: The Girl from the Sea   By: Shalini Boland

Publication Date: 6/9/2016

Summary:

Washed up on the beach, she can't remember who she is. She can't even remember her name. Turns out, she has an idyllic life - friends and family eager to fill in the blanks. But why are they lying to her? What don't they want her to remember?

When you don't even know who you are, how do you know who to trust? From www.amazon.com

Review:

I really really liked this book. I am a huge fan of "amnesia-based" books. Though it may seem that this theme has been done again and again, this storyline was pretty original.

You knew everyone in Mia's life was not to be trusted in some sort of way. Piers was sketchy. I thought the whole time that he had something to do with her accident because he was trying to steal her money.

But then you had the odd neighbors, the random friend Jack, and you really didn't know anymore that she does. I felt just as lost in life as she did.

I also liked how her feelings about the people in her life after the accident, specifically Piers and Jack, were basically the same feelings she had prior too. So like even though she lost her memory, she still had intuition, if that makes sense?

The ending tied it all together but in a way that wasn't completely expected. I could kind of figure out the premise of why she had "the accident" but the details weren't so obvious that I lost interest.

Lastly, the ending chapter was perfect. Just sealed the deal on her psychosis.

I'm really looking forward to reading other books by this author and will definitely be recommending to my friends and family.

Read Date: 8/24/2016

Acquired From: NetGalley

Book Review: "The Couple Next Door" By: Shari Lapena

Title: The Couple Next Door   By: Shari Lapena

Publication Date: 8/23/2016

Summary:

How well do you know the couple next door? Or your husband? Or even—yourself? 

People are capable of almost anything. . .

A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors—a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . .

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they've kept for years.

What follows is the nerve-racking unraveling of a family—a chilling tale of deception, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist. -From www.amazon.com

Review:

Do yourself a favor and don’t make plans for the day if you are going to pick up this book.

There are problems with books this good:

-          I get nothing done that day.

-          It’s over in a couple hours.

-          All I can talk about for the whole week is the awesome book I just read.

I don’t even know where to begin. I couldn’t put it down. It was non-stop from the first page. Everyone in the story is screwed up, and as you peel back the layers, it just becomes more twisted. Absolutely loved it. If you like mystery/thrillers, just read it. I promise you will like it. Then call me so we can talk about it. J

Read Date: 7/25/2016

Acquired From: NetGalley

Book Review: "Baby Doll" By: Hollie Overton

Title: Baby Doll   By: Hollie Overton

Publication Date: 7/12/2016

Summary:

Escape was just the beginning.

Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.

This is what happens next... to Lily, to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter -- and to her captor. - From www.amazon.com

Review:

I liked this book. I read it in a couple of days and it kept my interest. But, I have to add that I don't particularly feel like this book should have been categorized as a psychological thriller. It was more of a family drama. A few thoughts:

• Perhaps I didn't read the description clearly, but I thought I was going to be reading about a girl tortured in a dungeon and how she persevered. What it ended up being was the story of a girl captured within the first chapter. I figured we would go back after a couple chapters and relive her horror (is that effed up?) but that didn't happen. That being said, the book was still good, just not what I thought I was going to read.

• There are a lot of books written about being held captive, so even though I was expecting to read this, it was a nice change of theme to read about what happens AFTER she gets out.

•   Lily didn't seem "broken" or damaged enough to me, considering she had just spent 8 years in confinement. I almost wanted her to be a total psycho, but she was way too normal. I see a spider in my house and I have worse PTSD than she did.

• The relationships within her family are interesting, particularly the one she has with her sister. The author did a good job showing that. You could feel the love/devotion they had for one another.

Overall it was a good read and I would recommend it. Just read it knowing that you aren’t living through her experience with her. This really isn’t a problem because there are plenty of books like that.

Read Date: 7/24/2016

Acquired From: NetGalley

Book Review: "14 Days to Die" By: A.B. Whelan

Title: 14 Days to Die   By: A.B. Whelan

Publication Date: 1/13/2016

Summary:

To what extent would you go to avenge your husband's infidelity?

Stay-at-home mom Sarah Johnson has the perfect family—a handsome, hardworking husband and two healthy and beautiful children. At least, that’s what she’s been telling herself for years.

But Sarah’s world is about to crumble around her when she receives a phone call from a man with a heavy foreign accent telling her that her perfect husband has put a price on her head. She is offered two weeks to come up with a counteroffer or die.

So the game of life or death begins. Secrets are unveiled. Emotions are unleashed. Actions are taken.

Will there be a winner in this dangerous game when no one can escape the twist of fate?

From www.amazon.com

Review:

This was a good read. The main character was definitely crazy and you felt crazy with her. Some of the relationships she had with people (her friend and her mom) were slightly underdeveloped, but that didn’t take away from the plot. Every day of the 14 days was an adventure and you slowly felt as if you were spiraling out of control with her.

Read Date: 5/31/2016

Acquired From: Purchased from Amazon.com

Book Review: "Between You and Me: A psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming" By: Lisa Hall

Title: "Between You and Me: A psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming" By: Lisa Hall

Publication Date: 3/17/2016

Summary:

They say every marriage has its secrets.

But no one sees what happens behind closed doors.

And sometimes those doors should never be opened…

Sal and Charlie are married. They love each other. But they aren’t happy. Sal cannot leave, no matter what Charlie does – no matter how much it hurts.  From www.amazon.com

Review:

Let me preface this review by saying that I agree with other reviewers (particularly on amazon.com) that this is not really a “psychological thriller.” It’s suspenseful, and it’s psychological, but not really a thriller. That being said, why is everyone so angry about the ending? Yeah, it was a little weird. Definitely caught me off guard, but I don’t feel like it threw away the purpose of the book. I almost feel like I need to read it again. I kind-of/sort-of knew what the twist was going to be, there were minor hints towards it, but I still was thinking “NO WAY!”

And if the author fooled you, she did her job. After all, the title says “with a twist.”

Read Date: 5/27/2016

Acquired From: Purchased from Amazon.com