REVIEW⇢ THE LOOK-ALIKE

BY ERICA SPINDLER

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
Sienna Scott, who grew up in the dark shadow of her mother's paranoid delusions, returns home to confront her past and the unsolved murder that altered the course of her life.
In her mother's shuttered home, an old fear rears it ugly head. One that had taken root inside Sienna all those years ago - that it was she who had been the killer's target that night. And now, with it, a new fear - that the killer not only intended to remedy his past mistake - he's already begun.
As the walls close in, the line between truth and lie, reality and delusion disintegrate. Has Sienna's worst nightmare come true? Has she inherited more than her mother's beautiful face? Or will she unmask a killer and finally prove she may be her mother's look-alike, but she's not her clone?

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ BILLED AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ⁝ MENTAL ILLNESS ⁝ MURDER MYSTERY ⁝ A ROMANTIC INTEREST ⁝ A STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION ⁝ WANTED TO DNF...INSTEAD, I SKIMMED A LITTLE ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

BOOK COVER⇢ I LIKE IT...AND IT DREW ME IN, SO I BLAME THE COVER.

SETTING⇢ TRANQUILITY BLUFFS, WI

SOURCE⇢ I RECEIVED AN ARC VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

eBOOK LENGTH⇢ 320 PAGES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

This story hinges on the belief that because of her mother's paranoid delusions...that she (Sienna) has them too?  The only issue I have with that is nothing she did or thought made it feel like she was having paranoid delusions herself.  I think she was perfectly within her right mind to think the killer was maybe after her instead of the girl that was killed.  They had the same coat, she was walking the same little-used path as she took each night after her study group and at the same time that she would.  I don't get why her Dad, her brother, and even the Police tried to convince her it was all in her head.  Like she's her mother's clone.  Then came the last straw for me...Sienna and her Mother are wrestling over a gun...yeah, a gun and guess what happens?  Of course, you figured it out...one of them gets shot.  I'm like...really???

So...I started skimming sometime after that point because seriously, no one's got time for that shit.  I did want to know how it would end, though, so I stopped around the last twenty percent, and I read all to way to end.  All in all, I read just over 60%...which I believe is enough to rate a book.

I believe the author wrote the book the way she did, to trip readers up, so they won't guess the end.  Maybe???  But to make that work, it still has to be believable, and it just wasn't.  Basically, if your story starts out being too unbelievable, everything that comes after isn't going to be either.

MY RATING⇢ 1¾✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 2/5

Characters⇢ 1.5/5

The Feels⇢ 1/5 

Pacing⇢ 1/5

Addictiveness⇢ 1/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 2/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 1/5

Twisty-ness⇢ 1/5

Originality⇢ 2/5

Ending⇢ 2.5/5

REVIEW: TATTERED (LARK COVE #1)

BY DEVNEY PERRY

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣

Thea Landry has always known her place in modern-day society. It’s somewhere just above the trash can her mother dumped her in as a newborn but below the class where much comes easy. With her tattered shoes and bargain-bin clothes, her life has never been full of glamour.

So when a rich and charismatic man takes interest, she doesn’t fool herself into thinking their encounter is anything more than a one-night stand. Months later, she’s kicking herself for not getting his phone number. Or his last name. She’s given up hope of seeing him ever again.

Until one day, years later, Logan Kendrick waltzes into her life once more and turns everything she’s built upside down. This time around, she won’t make the same mistake. She’s going to fight to keep him in her life—not for herself.

But for their daughter.

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE ⁝ RICH HERO/POOR HEROINE ⁝ LOW-KEY DRAMA ⁝ THE KID MADE THE STORY ⁝ COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT THE STALKER ELEMENT ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ MAXINE MITCHELL & AARON SHEDLOCK
NARRATION RATING⇢  5/5
BOOK COVER⇢ LOVE IT...THE SUBTLE COLORS AND LAKE SCENERY ARE AMAZING.

SETTING⇢ MONTANA & NEW YORK CITY

SOURCE⇢ HOOPLA AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 10 HOURS, 7 MINUTES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

First and foremost; the narration was amazingly performed.  Each of them did the voice of the little girl so well, that I believe Charlie is my favorite character in this story.  Since the rich guy, poor girl schtick isn't really my thing, Charlie's character really won me over, that and her interactions with both MC's.  Also, the steaminess (sexy scenes) to story ratio was actually right where I like it to be, the perfect mix.  The added stalker element to this story felt like it was only there to make the book longer and I could have done without it.

Contemporary Romance that is low on drama is my favorite kind of romance.  I'm really put off by all the unnecessary shenanigans, especially when they feel contrived. This sort of thing is what turned me off from Romance themed books in the first place.  Every once in a while, though, I still like to read one...and when I find an author I like, I tend to stick with them.  Devney Perry could become one of those authors...I may have to read/listen to a few more of her books to figure that out, but I'm willing to do so.

MY RATING⇢ 3¾✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 3.5/5

Characters⇢ 4/5

The Feels⇢ 3.5/5

Pacing⇢ 4/5

Addictiveness⇢ 3.7/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.7/5

Steaminess/Story Ratio⇢ 20/80

Originality⇢ 3/5

Ending⇢ 3.5/5

FOR MORE LOW-KEY-DRAMA CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE, 

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REVIEW: THIS VICIOUS CURE (THIS MORTAL COIL #3)

BY EMILY SUVADA

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
SPOILERS AHEAD:  DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE READ BOOKS #1 & #2.  MY REVIEW IS SPOILER-FREE THOUGH...Cat’s hacking skills weren’t enough to keep her from losing everything—her identity, her past, and now her freedom. She’s trapped and alone, but she’s survived this long, and she’s not giving up without a fight.
Though the outbreak has been contained, a new threat has emerged—one that’s taken the world to the brink of a devastating war. With genetic technology that promises not just a cure for the plague, but a way to prevent death itself, both sides will stop at nothing to seize control of humanity’s future.
Facing her smartest, most devastating enemy yet, Cat must race against the clock to protect her friends and save the lives of millions on the planet’s surface. No matter the outcome, humanity will never be the same.
And this time, Cat can’t afford to let anything, or anyone, stand in her way.

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ SCIENCE FICTION ⁝ DYSTOPIAN ⁝ YA ⁝ GENE-HACKING, SPLICING & TECHY TERMS ⁝ ACTUALLY A LOT OF IT WENT OVER MY HEAD ⁝ SPLASH OF ROMANCE ⁝ A ZOMBIE-LIKE VIRUS ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ SKYE BENNETT
NARRATION RATING⇢  3.5/5
BOOK COVER⇢ IT MATCHES ALL THE OTHERS...

SETTING⇢ A FUTURISTIC UNITED STATES

SOURCE⇢ LIBRO FM AUDIOBOOK

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 12 HOURS, 11 MINUTES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

In my review of book #1 (This Mortal Coil), I stated that "this was completely comprehensible and a seriously compelling story, especially for a book involving gene hacking, splicing, decoding and lots of technical terms and such".  In my review for Book #2 (This Cruel Design), I stated that "I wished I could say that this book was the same for me...and it almost was, I just got a little lost in the beginning (and maybe, a little throughout)...but, eventually things started clicking for me".  For this book (#3) I was feeling even more confused by all the technical terms and such and things took a tad longer to click. 😕

I'm certain that if I had waited to read all three books together, or at least somewhat together instead of a year apart, I would have been able to retain more of the techy-talk, the plot and the multiple characters.  I was basically left reeling for the first third of the book.  My advice; read these books as close together as you can, I'm positive that I would have rated each story 5 stars if I had.  Someday maybe I'll binge these books...although I may decide that I don't like the narrator enough to do that.  Her voice was a little grating after a while.

Even with all my issues, I still found this series to be smartly written, with an exceptional plotline...it surprised me with the many twists and turns it takes throughout, it's definitely not predictable and I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who likes science fiction.  

MY RATING⇢ 4✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 4/5

Characters⇢ 4.3/5

The Feels⇢ 4/5

Pacing⇢ 4/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.5/5

World-Building⇢ 3.8/5

Originality⇢ 5/5

Ending⇢ 4/5

Other Books in the Series...

REVIEW: DEAD TO YOU

BY LISA MCMANN

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
A powerful psychological thriller with a shocking twist from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.
Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It’s a miracle…at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn’t going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there’s something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ ABDUCTED AT AGE 7 ⁝ FOUND AT AGE 16 ⁝ ADJUSTING TO A NEW LIFE ⁝ A SPLASH OF YA ROMANCE ⁝ PART REALISTIC FICTION MIXED WITH A LITTLE MYSTERY ⁝ A NON-ENDING FOR A ENDING ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ AARON TVEIT
NARRATION RATING⇢  3.7/5
BOOK COVER⇢ IT'S CLOSE-UP, THAT'S FOR SURE.

SETTING⇢ NOT SURE, SOMEWHERE NORTH OF MISSOURI...AND COLD

SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 4 HOURS, 51 MINUTES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

A super-quick listen that packs an indelible punch, but leaves you wanting more from the ending.  It was a very cliffhanger-y ending with no resolution in sight...since this was written back in 2010.  Subsequently, I feel like it gives you the opportunity to make your own ending, though.  So if you can live with that sort of ending and the other tags up top have you intrigued, I would totally give this a listen/read.  Overall it's short, so you won't have wasted much time on it and it really is quite thought-provoking. 

Aaron Tveit is a new to me narrator...and he was excellent with varying voices but not so great with his delivery of lines.  He didn't always give the story real feelings and, overall, it did affect my rating some.

MY RATING⇢ 3½✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 3.8/5

Characters⇢ 3.8/5

The Feels⇢ 4.2/5

Pacing⇢ 4/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5

Twisty-ness⇢ 3/5

Originality⇢ 3.5/5

Ending⇢ 3.5/5

REVIEW: I AM STILL ALIVE

BY KATE ALICE MARSHALL

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
After: Jess is alone. Her cabin has burned to the ground. She knows if she doesn’t act fast, the cold will kill her before she has time to worry about food. But she is still alive—for now.
Before: Jess hadn’t seen her survivalist, off-the-grid dad in over a decade. But after a car crash killed her mother and left her injured, she was forced to move to his cabin in the remote Canadian wilderness. Just as Jess was beginning to get to know him, a secret from his past paid them a visit, leaving her father dead and Jess stranded.
After: With only her father’s dog for company, Jess must forage and hunt for food, build shelter, and keep herself warm. Some days it feels like the wild is out to destroy her, but she’s stronger than she ever imagined.
Jess will survive. She has to. She knows who killed her father…and she wants revenge.

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ SURVIVAL/OFF THE GRID ⁝ WITH A SIDE OF REVENGE ⁝ AN AWESOME DOG...IS THERE ANY OTHER KIND??? ⁝ CRINGE-WORTHY SCENES OF FIELD DRESSING ⁝ THE END MADE ME CRY ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ AMY MCFADDEN
NARRATION RATING⇢  5/5
BOOK COVER⇢ IT WORKS PERFECTLY WITH THE STORY

SETTING⇢ A DESOLATE AREA OF CANADA

SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 8 HOURS, 31 MINUTES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

At its heart, this is a survival story, but it also has a subplot consisting of revenge.

Jess, is 16 (turns 17 during the course of her survival/revenge tour), and she is like most teenagers these days...whiny and not always thinking of the big picture, or even able to learn from her mistakes.  She also just lost her Mom, in a car accident that left her with a serious leg injury, which in my book, gives her reason to whine.  Doesn't mean I want to listen to it...but hey...either way, the narration by Amy McFadden is excellent, and I definitely recommend this in Audio format.  She makes the whining and complaining more bearable.

Overall, a compelling story, not always completely believable, but what do I know about surviving off the grid, other than I probably wouldn't have survived something like this, myself.  There is a dog in this, Bo, and he is the Hero of the book because without him Jess wouldn't have survived...and I'll just say the ending killed me a little bit.

MY RATING⇢ 3¾✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 4/5

Characters⇢ 3.7/5

The Feels⇢ 4/5

Pacing⇢ 4/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 3.7/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5

World-Building⇢ 4/5

Originality⇢ 4.5/5

Ending⇢ 3/5

REVIEW: BETWEEN YOU AND ME

BY LISA HALL

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
They say every marriage has its secrets.
They say in sickness and in health …
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.
A psychological thriller with a shocking twist you’ll never see coming.

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ DOMESTIC ABUSE ⁝ PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ⁝ WOW! THAT STUNNER OF A TWIST ⁝ HARD-HITTING ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ JESSICA BALL  NARRATION RATING⇢  4/5
BOOK COVER⇢ IT WORKS...

SETTING⇢ UK...LONDON AREA, MAYBE

SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 7 HOURS, 17 MINUTES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

Abuse...sometimes the mental abuse can be worse than the physical abuse.  When they get inside your head and convince you that something was your fault, and not theirs.  I was in a relationship like this once...thankfully I quickly wised up and got out before it escalated into physical abuse and before he had me completely brainwashed.  Looking back on it...I'm like, why did I ever give him a second or third chance.  Sometimes evil is subtle.

This is a story of an abusive relationship...but there's a twist to this, one I didn't see coming at all.  The narration was not bad, considering my issues with some accents.  This narrator worked out okay for me.

MY RATING⇢ 4½ ✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 4.5/5

Characters⇢ 4.3/5

The Feels⇢ 5/5

Pacing⇢ 5/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4.5/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4.5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4.3/5

Twisty-ness⇢ 5/5

Originality⇢ 5/5

Ending⇢ 4.7/5

REVIEW: GIRLS LIKE US

BY CRISTINA ALGER

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
FBI Agent Nell Flynn hasn’t been home in twelve years. Nell and her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, have never had much of a relationship. And Suffolk County will always be awash in memories of her mother, Marisol, who was brutally murdered when Nell was just seven.
When Martin Flynn dies in a motorcycle accident, Nell returns to the house she grew up in so that she can spread her father’s ashes and close his estate. At the behest of her father’s partner, Detective Lee Davis, Nell becomes involved in an investigation into the murders of two young Hispanic women in Suffolk County. The further Nell digs, the more likely it seems to her that her father should be the prime suspect–and that his friends on the police force are covering his tracks. Plagued by doubts about her mother’s murder–and her own role in exonerating her father in that case–Nell can’t help but ask questions about who killed Ria Ruiz and Adriana Marques and why. But she may not like the answers she finds–not just about those she loves, but about herself.

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ SUSPENSE-THRILLER ⁝ MYSTERY ⁝ COMING HOME ⁝ FBI ⁝ POLICE CORRUPTION ⁝HUMAN TRAFFICKING ⁝ 

BOOK DETAILS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ KYLA GARCIA NARRATION RATING⇢  4.5/5
BOOK COVER⇢ WINDY HILLSIDES ARE AWESOME

SETTING⇢ SUFFOLK COUNTY, ON LONG ISLAND

SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 8 HOURS, 48 MINUTES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

An FBI procedural that delivers.  With a smart, yet tuff female MC and an intricately complex murder mystery, the story moves along at a decent pace and even gets intense at times.  I was a tad miffed with the ending, but I still thought this a worthwhile listen.

Narration is very well performed by Kyla Garcia...she was a perfect fit for Nell Flynn.  The very end gave the impression that this could be the start of a series focusing on Nell Flynn, and I would totally read/listen more from this Author.

MY RATING⇢ 4 ✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 4.3/5

Characters⇢ 4.5/5

The Feels⇢ 3.8/5

Pacing⇢ 4/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4.3/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4.2/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5

Twisty-ness⇢ 4/5

Originality⇢ 4/5

Ending⇢ 3.7/5

REVIEW: INEBRIATED

BY KATEY TAYLOR

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
Barely seventeen and as pretty as can be: the summer is their playground. Cait and her best friends Steph and Allie take on San Francisco's party scene with fake IDs and short dresses.
When Cait meets Adrien Cross, the charismatic lead singer of her favorite indie band, she's introduced to a hedonistic world of liquor and lust that she never wants to leave.
But then that world spirals out of control and the harsh realities of reckless living take a toll on Cait and the ones she loves.
What will be left when the makeup masks wash off, the bottles are empty, and Cait begins to lose her grip on everything?
Katey Taylor's heart-wrenching debut novel will have you strapped into the intense rollercoaster ride of Cait's life and one chaotic summer that will change it all.

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ GRIT-YA ⁝ CONTEMPORARY (MOSTLY) REALISTIC FICTION ⁝ TEEN SEX AND DRINKING ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

BOOK COVER⇢ AMAZING...LOVE THE MINIMALIST DESIGN GOING HERE.  SADLY, IT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS BOOK.

SETTING⇢ SAN FRANCISCO, CA

SOURCE⇢ I OWN KINDLE EBOOK

eBOOK LENGTH⇢ 231 PAGES

MY THOUGHTS⇣

I thought this was going to be different than it was.  I thought it would focus on addiction and then working to break the addiction.  But it wasn't, not really.  It was really just a booze-fest for teens, heavily laden with bad decisions, and overly clueless parents.  If nothing else, you could use this book to teach your teen what not to do.  I guess someone young might like this sort of train-wreck of a story, but it wasn't really a good fit for me. 

MY RATING⇢ 2¼ ✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 2.8/5

Characters⇢ 3/5

The Feels⇢ 2/5

Pacing⇢ 3/5

Addictiveness⇢ 3.5/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 2/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 2.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 3/5

Originality⇢ 3/5

Ending⇢ 1/5

REVIEW: THE WIVES

BY TARRYN FISHER

SYNOPSIS FROM AUTHORS WEBSITE⇣
Imagine that your husband has two other wives. You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, and because of this unconventional arrangement, you can see your husband only one day a week. But you love him so much you don’t care. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself.
But one day, while you’re doing laundry, you find a scrap of paper in his pocket—an appointment reminder for a woman named Hannah, and you just know it’s another of the wives.
You thought you were fine with your arrangement, but you can’t help yourself: you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. Hannah has no idea who you really are. Then, Hannah starts showing up to your coffee dates with telltale bruises, and you realize she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. But you’ve never known him to be violent, ever.
Who exactly is your husband, and how far would you go to find the truth? Would you risk your own life?
And who is his mysterious third wife?

BOOK TAGS⇣

⁝ PSYCHOLOGICAL/DOMESTIC THRILLER ⁝ POLYGAMY ⁝ EVERYTHING IS NOT AS IT SEEMS...OR IS IT??? ⁝ COMPULSIVE...I COULDN'T STOP LISTENING ⁝

BOOK DETAILS⇣

AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ LAUREN FORTGANG NARRATION RATING⇢  4.5/5
BOOK COVER⇢ IT GOES WITH THE STORY FAIRLY WELL

SETTING⇢ SEATTLE, WA & PORTLAND, OR

SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)

AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 9 HOURS

MY THOUGHTS⇣

The Wives is another insane, yet distinctly Tarryn, type of story.  While I didn't like this one as much as Bad Mommy (renamed I Can Be A Better You) or Marrow (my all-time fav by Tarryn), I still found it compelling and fantastically written.  The narration was really quite good, too.  I have always liked Lauren Fortgang, though.  The narration and the justifiable ending were the deciding factors for my rating falling where it did.

In the beginning, this is slightly unbelievable, what with the multiple wives...there is no man that deserves more than one wife.  Midway through, there is a twist of sorts and it transcends into something slightly different.  And the clincher, a perfectly executed, and classic Tarryn, justifiable non-ending.

MY RATING⇢ 4✰STARS✰

BREAKDOWN⇣

Plot⇢ 3.7/5

Characters⇢ 3.5/5

The Feels⇢ 3.7/5

Pacing⇢ 4.7/5

Addictiveness⇢ 5/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 3/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.7/5

Twisty-ness⇢ 3.8/5

Originality⇢ 4/5

Ending⇢ 4.2/5