Book Review: The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

Author: Goldy Moldavsky

Title: The Mary Shelley Club

Genre: Horror, YA, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

Format: paperback

Pages: 468

Published: April 13, 2021

Where I Got It: Borrowed from friend

Summary: 

New girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends.

To her surprise, however, the prank attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley Club, a secret club of students with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. But as the pranks escalate, the competition turns cutthroat and takes on a life of its own.

When the tables are turned and someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past.

Review:

A friend suggested I check out this book so I borrowed it from them. 

Here we follow Rachel Chavez. She is eager to make a fresh start at her new school but she is a scholarship kid so she struggles to fit in. After getting caught up in a prank gone awry, she finds herself with a lot of enemies. However, this also gets the attention of the secret club called the Mary Shelley Club. This is a club with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. As the pranks escalate....someone starts targeting the club itself and Rachel must track down the real-life monster. 

I struggled a lot with this one. Things got better after the halfway-mark, but man that first half had me nearly DNFing it. I felt guilty since it was a book I borrowed from a friend who really liked it so I decided to keep on it and keep pushing to at least finish it. Lucky for me the last half was a bit better. 

The big twist was good. I had my original suspicions and it turns out I was right, but I changed my thoughts a few times.

The biggest issue I had with this book was Rachel. Yes, she is young and has some trauma. BUT O.M.G shut up about your horror movies for two seconds. She was barely sympathetic or likeable. 

TBH the whole club was unlikeable. I couldn't stand any of them. Sure, there are bullies that needed a piece of humble pie, but some of the pranks were not pranks at all. They were cruel. 

All-in-all, I wish I had liked this more but the characters bothered me. The last half was much better but still not really my cup of tea. Dang. I wish I had liked this as much as my friends. 2 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Unsatisfactory

Challenge(s):

- Cloak and Dagger - #17

Book Review: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

Author: Zoje Stage

Title: Baby Teeth

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Format: ebook

Pages: 314

Published: August 9, 2018

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Sweetness can be deceptive.

Meet Hanna.

She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.

Meet Suzette.

She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.

From blazing new talent Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth is a story about a perfect-looking family, and a darling little girl who wants nothing more than to kill her mother.

Review:

Yayyy book club book. My friend has been wanting us to read this for a while, but she kept putting it on the backburner. She finally decided it was time for us to check this out. 

Here we have a family that looks perfect. A dad with a great job. A mom who decided to stay home and take care of their child. However, things are not what they seem. Their little girl, Hanna, hasn't uttered a word since she was a baby, but is extremely smart. Hanna doesn't want to go to school so she keeps finding ways to get expelled and stay home. She doesn't want her mother, Suzette, around anymore. Suzette is plain exhausted, but things are looking dark as it seems Hanna has plans to get rid of her. 

This was pretty dark. Hanna has her dad tricked and blinded to her true intent. She doesn't want to go to school and she doesn't want her mom around. Along with her side kick...aka imaginary friend....or not? Who knows....she plans to get rid of her mom for good so she can have her father to herself. 

Suzette isn't perfect, but I felt so bad for her. She didn't deserve to have a monster of a child or a husband who doesn't believe her. So cliche that the man doesn't believe their wife but it made me chuckle when Suzette called that out when talking to the therapist. 

This was intense and I had no idea what was going to happen. Hanna was a monster and oddly smart for her age. I still don't understand WHY Hanna hated Suzette so much. I don't think Suzette did anything terrible. Sure, she isn't winning Mother of the Year anytime soon but she wasn't abusive or evil or mean? But Hanna does seem to have some mental illness issues and can't really see reality for what it is. She thinks Suzette is a witch and evil, etc.

I went down a path on reddit and Goodreads to see what others thought of the book. It seems to be truly divided. Some like this a lot...some hate it with a burning passion. It's very interesting, honestly, reading the reviews/thoughts. 

This book was weird but good. I really enjoyed it but it does get dark in some spots so be aware of that. 

Th ending? Mmmm. I have gone back and forth with my feelings on it. It wasn't as satisfying as I wanted it be. It was good, don't get me wrong, but I have so many questions. 

All-in-all, this was a weird read, but I enjoyed it. I think it is a very good book for book club. I have SO many things to say that I couldn't here (avoiding all spoilers) and I have SO many questions for the girls when meet up. 4 stars from me.

One word summary: Weird

Challenge(s):

- Cloak and Dagger - #8

- Library Love #7

Book Review: Mr.Murder by Dean Koontz

Author: Dean Koontz

Title: Mr Murder

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, SciFi

Format: ebook

Pages: 493

Published: January 1, 1993

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Martin Stillwater has a vivid imagination. It charms his loving wife, delights his two little daughters, and gives him all the inspiration he needs to write his highly successful mystery novels. But maybe Martin's imagination is a bit too vivid...

One rainy afternoon, a terrifying incident makes him question his grip on reality. A stranger breaks into his house, accusing Martin of stealing his wife, his children - and his life. Claiming to be the real Martin Stillwater, the intruder threatens to take what is rightfully his. The police think he's a figment of Martin's imagination. But Martin and his family have no choice but to believe the stranger's threat. And run for their lives.

But wherever they go - wherever they hide - he finds them...

Review:

Book for book club! I've read one by this author in the past....so I was curious to check out more so yayy for that. 

Here we follow the Stillwater family. Marty is a famous author. He has a great family. What more could a fella ask for? At one point a terrifying incident makes Marty question his grip on reality. A stranger who looks scarily like Marty breaks into his house and accuses Marty of stealing his family and his life. The police are of no help so Marty and his family run for their lives. However, this stranger keeps finding them.

This was creepy....super creepy. I questioned what was going on at every corner. Even when I thought I knew what was happening something else would happen and I would question everything all over again. I had zero idea how everything was going to be resolved. I still question things now. So yessss a nice thriller and mystery. 

I really enjoyed this but there was one part that made me really sad and I had to stop reading for a couple of days. Ugh. [TW and spoiler ]The bad guy killed all their pets and the author did go into details about. I wish he would've just said, "And the animals were murdered too."....leave it like that. Poor things. [End of spoiler]

All-in-all, this was intense to the 9th degree. I had no idea how everything was going to be resolved. The author is good for sure. One scene that was a bit much for me, but besides that I really liked it. Can't wait to discuss it at book club. I feel like there is a lot of stuff to talk about, but this review is hard because I don't to want to spoil a single thing. 4 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- Cloak and Dagger - #7

- Library Love #6

Book Review: Never for Glory by Lloyd Lofthouse

Author: Lloyd Lofthouse

Title: Never for Glory

Series: Josh Kavanagh #2

Genre: Military Fiction, Action, Suspense, Thriller

Format: ebook

Pages: 259

Published: June 25, 2023

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

He’d give his life for his country. But this time, it’s personal.

Josh Kavanagh burns for vengeance. Parachuting with no backup into a lawless area of southern Venezuela, the Special Ops legend is intent on hunting down the rogue agent who put his wife in a coma. But as soon as he gets feet on the ground, the loyal protector discovers he’s dropped into a trap… and a sex trafficking operation run by the Russian mob.

Fighting his way out and desperate to rescue the victims with minimal body count, Josh plans a daring raid on a remote ranch. But after learning the identity of the mastermind behind the hit on a former lover, the talented operative takes the law into his own hands on a hell-bent solo mission for revenge…

Will Josh’s single-minded thirst for justice finish on the wrong side of a gun barrel?

Never for Glory is the pulse-pounding second book in the Josh Kavanagh thriller series. If you like determined heroes, tough conflict ripped from the headlines, and page-turning action, then you’ll love Lloyd Lofthouse’s pursuit of payback.

Review: 

After reading the summary, I knew I had to check this out! I will admit, I was a little nervous.

Here we follow Josh Kavanagh. He burns for vengeance after his wife is put in a coma. After dropping into southern Venezuela, he soon realizes that he landed in a trap. He will have to fight his way out and bring down the sex trafficking operation run by a Russian mob and the mastermind behind the hit on his former lover. Will Josh succeed or find himself on the wrong side of a gun barrel?

Now, this is technically book 2 of the series. I didn't read book 1, but I had zero issues reading this. It did well as a standalone. Yes, some references are there about book 1, but the author did a good job of allowing the reader to understand enough to read forward. However...I am now curious about reading book 1 ;) 

Honestly, I was a little nervous when starting this. 1) this is book 2 - which I quickly realized this stands alone well and 2) My history with military-type books has been so hit-or-miss over the years. I am so picky when it comes to reading for a publisher/author so I didn't want this to be a miss. I took a gamble. Luck would have it that I quickly realized I liked the story! 

Josh is a gem. You can't help but root him on! I also adored his friend Cheete. Yes, he was a womanizer, but he was funny and very sweet. 

Oo! I also adored Adrienne!! I won't give anything away with her. Just know she is awesome. 

I must compliment the author. One of the issues I find with some military fiction is that the author gets a little heavy-handed with the military jargon. They get too stuck in the details to the point it feels like a textbook instead of a story. The author did a wonderful job balancing this. Yes, there is the jargon and we can tell the author knows what they are talking about, but a civvy like me can follow along easily enough and ENJOY what I'm reading. 

A nice set of characters and the plot was fun. Yes, seeking justice and blood is always classically fun. There is some darkness here, but with just enough comedy to combat the darkness. I really, really enjoyed this. I didn't and couldn't stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen to everyone and see the resolution. 

That scene with Cheete! Gah! I cheered but I also wanted to cry.

All-in-all, I found myself really enjoying this! I went into this a little weary, but I quickly found out that I liked this. Might I even say love? To be honest, I would like to read book 1 so I can understand Josh and some of the others better. I'm sure there is some history I'm missing out on. This has a good set of characters, an exciting plot, and it will make you feel. I'll give this 5 stars. I had zero issues with it and I didn't want to stop reading!!

 

Challenge(s):

- Cloak and Dagger - #1 (Thriller/Suspense)

DNF: The Cure by KJ Kalis

Author: KJ Kalis

Title: The Cure

Series: Kat Beckman #1

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Format: ebook

Pages: 376

Published: January 4, 2020

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Kat Beckman is a survivor. A harrowing IED attack in Afghanistan has left Kat with debilitating PTSD even though everything else in her life seems normal. It’s not something she talks about. Never. The secrets from her time overseas have stayed there. It’s better that way… or at least she thinks so. One day, visiting her hospitalized mother-in-law, a mysterious man approaches her and offers Kat a cure for the cancer that is ravaging Laura’s body and the heart of Kat’s family. But is Kat willing to face her dark memories to save Laura? Kat’s decision drags her into a maze of blackmail, murder and treason that forces her to choose between her love for her family and her loyalty to her country. Whether Kat can depend on the people from her past may control her future… 

Review:

Stumbled upon this and it sounded so interesting.........but sighs......

I think I got a hair over 100 pages of this before I had to toss my hands up in the air and surrender. 

The characters seemed great. The plot seemed soooo interesting. But....sighs. Maybe it was execution? Maybe it was me not fully connecting? I'm not sure. I just couldn't care and I started skimming rather quickly. 

DNF from me. 

Book Review: Every Last Secret by AR Torre

Author: AR Torre

Title: Every Last Secret

Genre: Mystery Thriller, Romance, Suspense

Format: ebook

Pages: 291

Published: December 1, 2020

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.

As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

Review:

I had my eyes on this when it came out a couple of years ago but I totally forgot about it. This was a re-read a member of our book club picked so yayy finally got myself a copy to check it out. 

Here we follow Cat and Neena. Cat has worked hard to get what she has...a beautiful home, social standing, and a successful husband. When a supposedly good couple moves in next door, Cat greets them with open arms. One half of that couple is Neena who isn't a fellow lady of leisure. She also worked hard to get where she is at. She is a life coach, has personal issues, a hazy past, and a husband who hasn't delivered in a while. She is anxious to move up in the world. This new town and Cat's husband will get her where she wants to go. Secrets, temptations, and toxic jealousy will run supreme. For both, the desire for the perfect life can turn dangerous. 

Holy cannoli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT? 

WHAT?

WHAT?

Okay.......where do I start?

Neena is insane. OBSESSED with William 

Cat is also insane and also OBSESSED with William.

WHAT is it about William that is driving the women crazy????

WHAT is it about Neena that makes her so tempting for William...and makes Matt obsessed with her? Sure, sure I get Matt is Neena's hubby, but wth? Those dudes are crazy too. 

The first 30% was a little rough while the story and characters get going...but after that? You won't put it down. Looking back...I am grateful we had a slow start. Things start getting crazy and I had zero ideas what was going to happen. When I thought I had a clue we would take a WILD left turn and then backpedal and go right. It was a fun ride. It really was. 

The ending had me literally saying, "DAMN! WHAT?????" But then I smiled. That was a good ride. 

5 stars from me even with the slow-ish beginning, but it was much needed before getting into the crazy weeds. Worth the read my friends. It will make you feel sane. 

Audiobook Review: The Ghostwriter by AR Torre

Author: A.R. Torre

Narrator: Andrea Izzy Anthony

Title: The Ghostwriter

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense 

Format: Audiobook

Published: October 2nd 2017

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Four years ago, I lied. I stood in front of the police, my friends and family, and made up a story, my best one yet. And all of them believed me.

I wasn't surprised. Telling stories is what made me famous. Fifteen bestsellers. Millions of fans. Fame and fortune.

Now, I have one last story to write. It'll be my best one yet, with a jaw-dropping twist that will leave them stunned and gasping for breath.

They say that sticks and stones will break your bones, but this story? It will be the one that kills me.

Review:

This was picked for my mini book club I'm in. I was nervous at first because I had zero idea what to expect...the summary says a lot but not a lot at the same time. 

The story follows an author who is dying. She decides that she needs to share her story and her expose her lies and truths. This is her confession and her apology. 

OMG. KEJFRWLEKJKLJCSLKDFJWLEJFWLFJWELKFJEWLFJWKELFJ!

Okay with that out of the way......*puts on reviewing hat*

This book had me captivated from page one. I finished it in just a couple of sittings. I did the audio of it and I couldn't stop listening. I was 30 mins from the end and I forced FH to listen to a chunk of it. This.....made me feel everything. 

You will not guess the end fully. You can guess and you MAY be close like I was. BUT....you won't guess. Nope. It blew me away. I could not stop crying when I realized what was happening. I wanted the truth but I wanted the truth to not be the truth. It's like a car accident...you can't help but watch and be intrigued about what is going on even though you should turn your eyes from the horror. I sobbed. Utterly and truly sobbed. But her getting her truth out was such a relief. 

I've avoided reading other reviews until I could get mine done because I didn't want to be swayed or spoiled. At the same time I was simply ACHING to know the truth. Oh Helena. Poor, poor Helena. 

Yes, you will have conflicting emotions for her. She was a jerk sometimes and she could be seen as cold and callous even both the lie/event/tragedy occurred. She was for sure flawed like we all are. By the end you just want to wrap your arms around her and make it go away. 

I loved how she made some unlikely friends like her nemesis. It made me smile. I won't say more even though that is a mini spoiler. 

The audio just made this better. I read a few pages but I really loved the narrator more. She really helped the story and the characters. This NEEDS to become a movie. NEEDS to. 

In the end, this is for sure a contender for best book of the year in my eyes. It makes you feel everything. You will want to cheat and skip to get the reveal...but at the same time you will be hooked by the words. That ending. OMG. I am curious about other books by this author...if they are half as good as this one - I will like them. 5 stars of course.  READ IT!!!

 

Challenge(s):
- #63 for Audiobook challenge

Audiobook Review: Butterfly Bayou by Lexi Blake

Author:  Lexi Blake

Narrator:  Jessica Almasy

Title: Butterfly Bayou

(Butterfly Bayou #1)

Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Suspense

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 320

Published: May 5, 2020

Where I got It: Borrowed from the library

Summary: 

Life in Dallas took a tragic turn for nurse practitioner Lila Daley. In need of a fresh start, she retreats to Papillon, Louisiana, a tiny town on the bayou. Sure she's greeted by a gator, finds herself in the middle of golf cart wars, and unwittingly adopts a scruffy dog, but Lila remains undaunted. She's focused on running the town's medical clinic, but fitting into the quirky community is harder than she imagined.

As a single dad, Sheriff Armie LaVigne embraces routine. But there is nothing routine about the town's newest resident. Lila is a gorgeous fish out of water and he’s ready to catch her. In fact, in no time at all, Armie knows Lila is the woman for him and he plans to win her heart. But when the past threatens their happiness, Armie will have to decide if he has the courage to trust Lila enough to find a true happily ever after.

Review:

Beautiful cover. Beautiful butterflies. A cute-ass puppy. AND two broken characters? Small town? Yes please. 

We follow Lila and Armie. Lila is a nurse practitioner whose life was flipped upside down after things took a tragic turn. She decides to move Papillon, Louisiana to be near her sister. On the other side of the small town is single dad, Sheriff Armie, who wants a routine and no changes but change is heading his way when he meets Lila. 

OooooOOOooOOOooOO holy symbolism! Papillon...butterflies....two characters who need a change in their life....a town scared of changes......I write an entire essay on this alone. Love it!

Lila was a hard cookie. She has lived her life with a rough and prickly exterior. But she needed it to survive her childhood and her line of work as a nurse in the ER. I liked her a lot. 

Armie is adorable even though he made me SOOOOOOO mad near the end. OOOO boy did he need a kick in the butt. Good on you Lila not caving. Change is hard and having a stubborn kid is hard. Honestly... I felt this was a left-field reaction for him. 

This was a little darker in some parts than I thought. It was light and fluffy in some parts and not in others. I liked it. It felt right. 

The townsfolk were fun BUT they sucked and were sooo mean to Lila at first. Yes, yes they do not like change and having their Doc retire and this "stranger" comes in and takes his place. But 1) she is not a complete stranger....her sis and BIL live in town and are BELOVED. 2)the Sheriff trusts her....and 3) It is 2000s. GET over it. 

The narrator was good. I liked her voices. She had a huge variety for the women, but the men's voices she had only a small pocket. This works in the end, but you have to focus when there are multiple men in the convo.

All-in-all, I really liked this book. The characters. The town. The story. It was good. I highly recommend it. I'll give this 4 stars.  

Challenge(s):
- #25 for Audiobook challenge

- #17 for Romance Bingo - Doctor/Nurse

Audiobook Review: Dangerous Secrets by Abbie Zanders

Author: Abbie Zanders 
Narrator: Aiden Snow
Title: Dangerous Secrets
(Callaghan Brothers #1)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Set, Romantic Suspense
Format: Audiobook 
Pages: 356 
Published: November 19th 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



Two secret pasts... one passionate love story.

Taryn Malone is stranded, broke, and desperate for help. But even if the sexy bartender she's been eyeing offers her a job for the evening... even if he seduces her with his impossibly intense blue eyes... even if every fiber of her heart tells her to stay with him... she can't.

Because Taryn Malone doesn't exist.

Jake Callaghan has been running the family's Irish pub for years now. When he sees Taryn standing out alone in the rain, he does what he's been trained to do as a SEAL - he rescues her. It has nothing to do with her full, firm curves, or her loose, golden-blonde hair, or the way she brushes against him that sends lightning bolts through his body. It's just the right thing to do.

Really.

But both Taryn and Jake are hiding secrets from each other. Dangerous secrets. And neither one of them knows just how dangerous it can be to fall in love...

Gotta love randomly stumbling on something that will match up with pretty much every reading challenge. Whoo! 

The story follows Taryn and Jake Callaghan. Taryn survived awful things and has been in hiding for 10 years until she runs into Jake. Jake runs his family's Irish pub, but he is hiding secrets too. He is ex-SEAL, a soldier for his family, and a womanizer. They fall in love and their secrets will put them in a lot of danger. 

Oh Taryn. You poor thing. When you find out what had happened to her and her whole family it really does make you sad. I even teared up when we got the full story. SOBS!

Ugh. Jake and his family. Don't get me wrong...I liked them...but TOO alpha. I like alpha more than I should, but even I have a limit. Meh. You can't lie to Taryn like that. NOT okay. And omg they do not respect women AT all. All the brothers wanted to bang Taryn. Good lord. She is badass and cool, but leave the poor woman alone! I'm glad Jake did step up and say MY WOMAN, so they all backed up and think of her as a sister now, but GOOD LORD. 

I also found it super, duper weird that Taryn UNKNOWINGLY was forced to hunker down with Jake's older brother. 1...ummmm Taryn is BOUND to find out you tricked her. 2....I began to feel like Jake was no longer the love interest. Taryn spent a good chunk getting to know the older brother. We even stopped having Jake's POV for a while and got the older brother's POV. Ummm. Okay. I had to double-check the summary of the book and yes - Jake is the male love interest. Mmmm  super weird. So I felt like I didn't BUY that Jake and Taryn were in love even when they were reunited. 

The suspense and thriller parts were good. I was on the edge of my seat and even with my issues - I had to know all the secrets and what really happened and what WOULD happen to our characters. I was so worried about Taryn! 

I liked the narrator. I feel like I have heard him previously (so bad at names). I do wish he had more variances for the male voices. They all sounded pretty close though. I did have to really pay attention when there was more than one male in the room. 

Overall...this was just okay. I had some issues with the plot and the TOO alpha-ness of the brothers. I'll give this 2 stars. Not sure if I'll continue the series tbh. We shall see. 

Challenge(s):

- #22 for Audiobook Challenge

- #5 on THE BAD BOYS OF ROMANCE challenge



- #15 for Romantic Suspense