Slow Start

Since I wasn’t able to read as much as I had planned/wanted for the beginning of January, I feel like I’m already behind on my count!  BUT - it’s not about the quantity, but the quality, right?  And even more so, I think it’s about the enjoyment - and I did enjoy these, so it’s a win!

Earth's the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg

When Arthur becomes friends with the prettiest girl in class, he’s over the moon.  The only problem is:  He wants to be more than just friends.  As the “prequel” to Elizabeth Berg’s other Arthur Truluv books, we get to learn how Arthur’s life growing up in Mason shapes the perspectives that will stay with him his whole life.  Although I always enjoy Berg’s books, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to read this one…I mean, come on!  Another book about this town and these people?  But I was wrong.  It caught me hook, line, and sinker and I very much enjoyed it.  Not a very long book, but one that left me with a smile on my face for sure.

4 Stars 

Special Note:  Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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What Have We Done by Alex Finlay

Young teens who experience a shared bond in a group home each grow up to find moderate success in life.   Now, as adults, one of them is killed, and the others begin to be blackmailed, they gather together once again to get to the bottom of things.  Told in multiple POVs, I found this to be an interesting book and I definitely looked forward to picking it up at the end of the day, but there wasn’t anything necessarily “new” about the book.  I feel like there are many books out there that are similar to this, so I was really looking forward to that twist or turn that would make this one special, but it never really came.  Still a good page turner---excellent vacation book for when you want to just escape for a little while.

3 Stars

Special Note:  Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

It’s Kentucky during the Great Depression, and Cussy Mary has gotten herself a job as a packhorse librarian.  Now that her mother has passed away, it’s just her taking care of her Pa, which isn’t easy since he’s dealing with lung issues from working in the coal mine.  Then there’s the fact that they are poor, hungry, and…blue.  Yes, Cussy Mary and her father have blue skin---and the color only deepens during times of stress or high emotion.  Not exactly an asset to have, given the already high racial tensions of the times.  A fictional account of the true story of the Kentucky “blues,” I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book, especially since I found the beginning of it to be fairly sad and a bit depressing.  But it held my interest, so I kept going and I’m so glad I did!  One of the best books I’ve read in a while---and now I’m eager to the sequel.  I highly recommend!

5 Stars

🌟 BOOK REVIEW🌟 🌟 💫 Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 2 incidents- one at the brink of Y2K and one 15 years later- each eerily similar with the killer leaving just one survivor. How do the survivors get together to unravel the mystery- are the 2 incidents related- will the cold case and the suspect on the run ever be caught- that pretty much sums up pseudonymous author Alex Finlay’s much anticipated follow up to Every Last Fear. To the author’s credit, the book is razor sharp and goes at full throttle from the word go. The story proceeds through the POVs of Ella- the sole survivor of the Y2K video store killings- her interaction with Jessica, the survivor of the latest killings- a FBI officer, Sarah Keller, pregnant with a set of twins and the public defender, Chris- brother to the prime suspect of the 1st murders and battling his own demons. The suspense is actually pretty good and it helps as each character is well etched out and keeps you intrigued. On the negative side, the cold case aspect wasn’t fleshed out well as the Y2K period with lack of technologies could have been used further. The psychological aspect of abusive household of children was handled sensitively. The final reveal isn’t something you wouldn’t have read before but the journey is worth it. Going for a 4- 4.5 🌟 #bookreview #bookstagram #bookphotography #bookrecommendations #thenightshift #alexfinlay #libby #mcmillanaudiobooks #minotaurbooks #booknerd #thriller #coldcase https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg-Dx2WA13i/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Some great additions ths week. Some hardcovers of review books - Night Shift is one of my favorite thrillers this year - the newest Finlay Donovan book - Dark Hours (Bosch & Ballard) How to Find Your Way in the Dark is a fabulous book by Derek Miller. Katzenjammer by Francesca Zappia. Her book, Eliza and Her Monsters was a favorite last year. Any on your list? #julybookhaul #bradsbookhaul #finlaydonovan #michaelconnelly #katzenjammer #francescazappia #alexfinlay #jopiazza #dikimstone #heartsofierceandbroken #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #bookworm #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs #angiemarsons #minotaurbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CgWviT0Ln6y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay #BookReview #Thriller

After reading #AlexFinlay's new book, I knew I had to go back and read his other works. #EveryLastFear is the book that launched him into literary stardom. It's a taut #thriller with a touch of #policeprocedural mixed in. #StMartinsPress #bookreview

“They found the bodies on a Tuesday.” So begins this twisty and breathtaking novel that traces the fate of the Pine family, a thriller that will both leave you on the edge of your seat and move you to tears. After a late night of partying, NYU student Matt Pine returns to his dorm room to devastating news: nearly his entire family—his mom, his dad, his little brother and sister—have been found…

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💬 What was the last book you rated 5 stars? I just finished reading The Night Shift by @alexfinlayauthor and I absolutely loved it! This book was non-stop entertainment from beginning to end. I highly recommend this one to thriller readers! Thank you to @minotaur_books for gifting me this copy! . . . h a s h t a g s : #thenightshift #alexfinlay #thrillerbooks #thrillerreads #livemoremagic #aquietbeauty #asecondofwhimsey #awakethelight #lifestyleinspo #photosinbetween #ofsimplethings #hopetoread #seekinspirecreate #totalbooknerd #bibliophile #booknerd #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookseverywhere #morningslikethese #cozystyle #readinglife https://www.instagram.com/p/CblixWLub2i/?utm_medium=tumblr

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

This gripped me from the beginning and didn’t let go until the epilogue.

Ella is the sole survivor of the 1995 Blockbuster massacre that took place in her home town. Present day she is a practicing therapist helping others dissect and cope with their traumas, whilst still sorting out some unresolved baggage of her own. When a local ice cream store experiences a similar tragedy, Ella is called on by her former teacher to help the sole survivor (Jessie) of this tragedy cope. Jessie and Ella quickly realize the perpetrator behind both crimes must be the same man, there is a copycat killer on the loose, or this is some bizarre, sick coincidence. Forced to join forces once Jessie is arrested on suspicion of the murders, Ella and Jessie put their heads together to figure out who is behind the crimes before it is too late. The road to unmask the killer is a long and treacherous one, will anyone make it to the end alive?

This was so well written! Suspense in all the right places, great level of detail, and just enough action to not give me a full heart attack. This bore familiarity to The Final Girls Support Group and also the Josie Quinn series. The anxiety, the fear, the betrayal was all very palpable and this kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. TWs: sexual abuse, PTSD, depression, alcohol abuse, and abuse of power.

I recommend this wholeheartedly!

5/5

One of my favorite thrillers so far this year is The Night Shift by Alex Finlay. It’s coming out March 1st and I am so thankful to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me an early copy to enjoy through NetGalley❤️. . My favorite format of book to read on an everyday basis is a digital book. It’s just so convenient. Though, I do still love flipping the pages of a hardback from time to time. Nothing compares to that. . What’s your favorite format of book? . . . . #thenightshift #alexfinlay #mystery #mysterybooks #mysteryreadersofig #mysteryreadersofinstagram #mysterybookstagram #mysteryreaders #mysterynovel #thrillerbookslover #thrillerbookaddict #thrillerbooks #thriller #thrillerreads #thrillerthursday #thrillerbook #thrillerbooksaddict #thrillers #tessatalksbooks #allthebooksfeb22 #bookblogger #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookbloggersofig #bookbloggerlife #bookbloggershub #bookdragon #bookdragons #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreader #netgalley (at Lake Davidson) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaXNRT_L4D2/?utm_medium=tumblr

✨REVIEW✨ Every Last Fear By Alex Finlay "You have two choices when you're confronted with your every last fear: Give up or fight like hell"-Evan pine ( I have mad respect for this man) ✨ This book was a page turner. It's started with a bang.Sometimes as soon as you pick a book up you just know that you are going to enjoy consuming every page and this is exactly what happened with 'Every last Fear'. ✨ Matt Pine an NYU student, receives some devastating news that his father Evan, mother Olivia, sister Maggie and baby brother Tommy have died in Mexico in a gas leak. His elder brother Danny is in prison convicted of killing his girlfriend. The family utterly believe in Danny’s innocence and fits a false confession which is the subject of a Netflix documentary about wrongful conviction. ✨ It started so strongly.The plot was so well done and had me engrossed! It was very emotional reading about a family pulled apart by tragedy, and I was heartbroken by the end! Seriously, I lay in bed after feeling so sad, because even though I knew the Pine family were dead from the very first page, I felt like I knew them. They suffered so much to prove their son innocence. The teenage daughter Maggie' death hit me hardest. And Reading from their POV made me care about them, and I was genuinely upset when I finished the book! ✨ It was tell from many perspective which helped me understand them more.I thought it was a very intriguing and interesting way to tell their story. Knowing they were all dead didn’t diminish how important they were. It made my heartache to know they were all gone and Matt was all alone. Matt has to find a way to bring out justice for his family without getting killed. ✨ This is one of the best thriller of 2021. I loved this from the get-go.Each chapter captivated me and made me want to continue reading. I strongly recommend this book to everyone.👌 Rate:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 #everylastfearbook #alexfinlay #thrillerreads #bestbooks #bestthriller #2021goals #ebookepub #scrunchie #coffeeshots #photographybooks #flatlayphoto #fridaypost #readinglife #ereaders #bloggerslife #thrillerlover #2021bestbooks #shereadsbooks #bookstgram #bdclicks #thoughtsoftheday https://www.instagram.com/p/CR8-XL7Bsps/?utm_medium=tumblr

I received an advanced reader copy of Every Last Fear from St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion. Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is a story about the lengths we’ll go to for our loved ones. Seven years ago, Matt Pine’s family was torn apart when his older brother, Danny, was arrested for killing his girlfriend. In the past few years his family has been in the public eye due to a documentary profiling Danny. FBI Sarah Keller has been tasked with breaking the news to Matt that his parents and younger siblings have accidentally died while in Mexico on spring break. Due to issues with the Mexican government and the dangers that Matt experiences, Agent Keller isn’t sure that these deaths were accidental. As Matt numbly navigates his way thru the first few days without his family, he’ll learn who he can and cannot trust. This was a fantastic, fast paced book filled with great characters, that you should immediately put on your TBR list. For my local peeps, Chicago and Naperville make appearances. Every Last Fear is available tomorrow, March 2, 2021. Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars #alexfinlay #everylastfear #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #mysterythriller #thriller #thrillerbooks #readin2021 #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic @netgalley @stmartinspress @minotaur_books https://www.instagram.com/p/CL5X93VgBp3/?igshid=cnh43oni7rps

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay @HoZ_Books #booktour #bookreview

Check out my review of Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay This is a FIVE STAR read, if you love crime fiction, order this book today! @HoZ_Books #booktour #bookreview #bookcommunity #booktwitter #alexfinlay #books

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay Review by Kelly Lacey Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay  Once in a while, a book comes along and it hooks your right from the start. You have that moment of realisation that this book is a bit different. That is the experience I had when I started Every Last Fear.  I loved everything about the book, the cover, the plot and the exquisite writing style. Up ahead I am…

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April book haul- can’t wait to get started!! Which ones are on your TBR and which ones would you recommend? #thegoldencouple #thebookofcoldcases #insomnia #ninelives #truebiz #thechildrenonthehill #thenightshift #thrillerbooks #bookhauls #bookstagram #bookphotography #sarahpekkanen #simonstjames #peterswanson #sarahpinborough #saranovic #jennifermcmahon #alexfinlay https://www.instagram.com/p/CcwDbqMLfA4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Lots of great books in February. Paradox Hotel and Night Shift are two books you should add to your TBR. Another great story from the writing team of Hendricks and Pekkanen. And a great new character from Evanovich. What was your favorite book in February? Impostor Syndrome ❤️❤️❤️❤️🎧 Sierra Six ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Our American Friend ❤️❤️❤️❤️ The Paradox Hotel ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Reckless Girls ❤️❤️❤️💕🎧 The One Impossible Labyrinth ❤️❤️❤️❤️💕 Blue Fire ❤️❤️❤️❤️🎧 Hideout ❤️❤️❤️❤️💕 The Silent Sisters ❤️❤️❤️❤️ The Golden Couple ❤️❤️❤️❤️💕 The Damage ❤️❤️❤️💕🎧 The Night Shift ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The Recovery Agent ❤️❤️❤️❤️💕 #februarywrapup #bradswrapup #greyman #ouramericanfriend #theparadoxhotel #bookofthemonth #recklessgirls #matthewreilly #bluefire #louisaluna #thegoldencouple #thedamage #thenightshift #alexfinlay #therecoveryagent #janetevanovich #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #bookhoarder #sodacityreads #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #fiction #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller https://www.instagram.com/p/CaublJTrPn8/?utm_medium=tumblr

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay #BookReview #Mystery #Goodreads2022Nominee

After reading #AlexFinlay's newest book a few weeks ago, I went back and checked out #TheNightShift from the library. IT was one of #Goodreads #2022Nominees for best #Mystery #Thriller. I was not disappointed. #policeprocedural #bookreview #librarybook

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again. Fifteen years…

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What Have We Done? by Alex Finlay #NetGalley #ARCReview #Thriller

What happened to a group of kids at a group home 25 years ago and why has it come back to haunt them? That's the premise of #WhatHaveWeDone by #AlexFinlay #NetGalley #ARCReview #Suspense #Thriller #March2023Books #NEWBooks #BookReview #bargainsleuth

Twenty five years ago, Jenna, Donnie, and Nico were the best of friends, a bond forged as residents of Savior House, an abusive group home for parentless teens. When the home was shut down—after the disappearance of several kids—the three were split up. Though the trauma of their childhood has never left them, each went on to live successful, if troubled, lives. They haven’t seen one another…

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The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is a wild ride of a thriller. "New Year's Eve, 1999 - Four teenagers are attacked at a Blockbuster video store in Linden, NJ - only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again. Fifteen years later at an ice-cream store in the same town, four teenagers are attacked and only one makes it out alive. The survivor of the Blockbuster massacre is forced to relive her tragedy. The brother of the original suspect is convinced the police had the wrong suspect. And the FBI agent is determined to solve both cases." This new book by Finlay is fast-paced and entertaining. I love a book where the twists and turns seem to never stop. I actually guessed the killer in this book (but it was just a guess) Seems like several characters had secrets that were easily revealed. So many "Wait..What?!?" moments as each twist is revealed. A surprise ending and a nice twist at the end. I like when a book has some resolution for the characters. Best nickname ever for an FBI agent Great choice if you're looking for a fast-paced, twisty story. Another great thriller pick for the beach. Thanks to @minotaur_books and @netgalley for the advanced copy. #thenightshift #alexfinlay #minotaurbooks #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #bookhoarder #bookworm #sodacityreads #bookish #bookreview #hardcover #bookcover #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #goodreads #homelibrary #fiction #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #twistybooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CapF0kXr4FO/?utm_medium=tumblr