Make Up Reading

  4.5 out of 5 stars Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is my first Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel and I really enjoyed it. I think that my first introduction to this character being an audio book really worked out well for me. The narration by Robert Bathurst was perfect and as I got to know the character I realized he was the best choice. He really brought me into the story more. All the Devils Are Here (love the title by the way) felt like a good old fashioned mystery but with a hard edge that I really enjoyed. I loved the way Paris was captured here and I enjoyed the thriller aspects added to up the excitement a bit more. I love a good cozy mystery but really enjoy a good thriller as well.  I plan to read all of the previous novels now that I have been introduced to Armand Gamache . He is a very interesting character. I am so glad that I have been introduced to h...

5 out  of 5 stars Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of The Night Swim in exchange for an honest review. Am I the only one who loves listening to audio books as a way to relax? For me there is nothing more calming then listening to a good audio book and doing other things like crocheting to feel myself completely relax. What makes that even better? When the book is great and the narrators are super awesome!  Bailey Carr; January LaVoy; Samantha Desz are great narrators that really captured the feel of the novel and the mood of the characters.  The actual story was really awesome as well. I read a really good book by Megan Goldin  (The Escape Room) last year and was blown away by it. I have to say I enjoyed The Night Swim a bit more which surprised  me! I think one of the things I liked so much about this is we followed a true crime podcaster as she decided to dedicate her latest season to a rape trial. ...

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review. Audio has become my favorite medium and I listen to tons of audio books and I have heard a lot of narrators, some bad some god but these narrators were fantastic! Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine did a really good job of introducing you to the characters and of making you care about them. I also want to say the this audio book was packaged really well. You hear the POV of Anna, Jack and the killer and the killer's voice is masked the whole time. Super awesome! After losing her job as a news reader and getting pushed back into the correspondence field again  she returns to the home town she escaped from at 16 to cover the murder of an old school friend/enemy.  Jack left London a few years ago and is now the head of police in the town of Blackdown only to find that the murder victim is someone whom he has been having a secret relationship. This is a taut, wel...

3.75 out of 5 stars I would like to thank Netgalley and St.Martin's press for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  I love finding authors that are new to me and Netgalley has introduced me to many of my favorite authors, Anna Downes will be added to that list. Emily's life is a disaster. She makes terrible life choices, is estranged from her parents and just lost her job. When Emily's former boss offers her a new job that seems way too good to be true she accepts it. I mean who wouldn't want to jump at that chance? Okay, you wouldn't? I wouldn't either but Emily is extremely naive so she takes it. I liked the feel of this novel. It had a kind of Gothic feel to it and it really held my interest. It was a bit predictable but was still a good mystery. I like Anna Downes voice and look forward to reading more by her.

4 out of 5 stars Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books books for allowing me to read this novel for an honest review. Astrid, a recovering alcoholic has moved home to live with her Mother in her small village.  She is trying desperately to leave her past behind but it won't be that easy. Astrid thinks someone is following her, at first she thinks that maybe she is imaging it. Just maybe it is her imagination but then she swears that she sees her ex boyfriend's shirt in a consignment shop and she starts getting threatening letters. Astrid keeps it to herself at first because she doesn't want to upset her Mother and doesn't want to risk messing up her new relationship. This was a very well written novel with a likable character that you really want to root for.

4 out of 5 stars Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital ARC I received in exchange for an honest review. Madeleine  d'Leon  is a successful cozy mystery writer. Her Veronica Killwilly series is sch a hit she is in talks about turning it into a television series.  She is bored with it though so she sets out to start a ew mystery. The more she writes about Edward McGinnity the more real he becomes to her, in fact he begins to take on a life of his own. I really enjoyed this novel and thought it would be a five star novel until the end. Now, just because I found the ending to be lacking the amount of satisfaction I was looking for I do believe that many will enjoy the whole book  and will love the ending. It just wasn't my cup of tea, This is sooooooo worth a read! This is not just a mystery but a bit of love story as well.

4.5 out of 5 stars I want to thank Netgalley and St.Martins Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. When I requested this book I didn't realize it was part of a series but it didn't affect the story for me at all.  It was easy to get to know the characters and before I was done I felt like I had known them forever!  In 1952 the first victim was found in a dress she didn't own, in full make up but without shoes and her purse. The second victim appeared in 1972 and now the latest has been found. When Russ Van Alstyne is called to the body of a woman with the same MO in modern day he knows he must work fast as he was accused of the murder of the young woman back in 1972 when he was a young Vietnam vet. With the help of Clare Fergusson and his police department he sets out to solve a crime that may be his most personal to date. I will be picking up the first books in the series because the writing is cinematic, I co...

4 out of 5 stars I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. During Christmas break three girls disappear from one of their homes with no trace. There were no signs of struggle and their phones and purses are left behind. Kelly Falls may seem like the perfect small town but something is wrong.  It has been three months and no new news on where the girls could be. Twenty three year old patrol officer Shea O'connor is still trying to recover from the last time she went undercover at the local high school to catch a serial killer. She is not sure that she wants to go undercover at Kelly Falls community college to get to know some of the missing girl's friends in hope that she can find out what was going on in their lives before they disappeared.  I really enjoyed this novel but I find it kind of hard to describe. It is an adult mystery but because Shea was with teenagers t...

5 out of 5 stars  Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. When Youtube influencer Violet is Blue shuts down all of her social media accounts and her successful channel many of her followers are confused and lost by her sudden disappearance. What could have happened to her? Is she okay?  Her husband Henry has posted a few times but barely at all. For Lily and Yvonne the disappearance of Violet has become a bit of an obsession.  Each woman begins to start her own investigation into what happened to Violet. Funny, twisted and fresh! This book was so much fun to read even though there were some really messed up characters. I will admit that I like to Youtube videos and I have totally seen some fans that have become a bit obsessive so that made this book even more interesting.  Both Yvonne and Lily are interesting characters and you may find your allegiance changing as the ...

Thank you,thank you to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 5 out of 5 stars I must say in advance that this was my most anticipated book of the year from the moment that I saw that it would be coming out in 2020. I am a huge fan of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen as a writing team! I was thrilled to be able to read this early! Shay Miller lives a lonely life and she feels as if she is at a crossroads. She shares an apartment with her friend who she has a  secret crush on but he has a girlfriend. She lost her job and has a job as a temp and she barely see her best friend because she has a busy life with her new baby. One hot August morning as she is waiting for the subway she noticed a pretty young woman in a dress with polka dots moving closer and closer to the edge of the platform. Before she knows the woman has jumped in front of the train. Of course Shay is shocked but there is more to it...

4 out of 5 stars I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Veterinarian  Cassie Larkin is driving home from work one night when she sees a man assaulting a woman on the side of the road. Feeling like she has no choice but to help Cassie pulls over, gets out of her car and tries to help the woman. When the man sees her he tells her to go away. That he has no plans to hurt her but Cassie does all she can to stop him, including calling the police and getting closer. When the man escapes he takes her van. She knows that he now has her address and the keys to her home.  The next day happens to be Halloween and when Cassie's husband Sam disappears as he is taking her daughter Audrey trick or treating Cassie knows she must do everything she can to find her husband even if it puts her life in jeopardy.  Heather Chavez  has written a fast paced mystery that keeps you inte...

4 1/2 out of 5 stars First off I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel to read in echange for an honest review. I have to admit that this is only the second book that I have read by Sarah Pinborough and I was not blown away by that novel. I am happy to say that I really, really liked "Dead to Her"!   Marcie Maddox and her husband Jason really are not thrilled with having to go to the party that Jason's boss William is throwing for his new English bride. When Keisha makes her grand interest Marcie is rather shocked at first. Keisha is beautiful, sexy,young and black. Marcie can't help but wonder how the high society of Savannah will react to all all this and then she glances at her husband.  She catches Jason staring at Keisha,practically salivating as he looks at her. Marcie, who until Keisha arrived was the young, sexy second wife. She felt as if she was finally starting to get accepted...

4 out of 5 stars I would like to thank Netgalley and Mira books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I discovered J.T. Ellison in November of this year and have become a fan of hers. I was super thrilled to be able to read this new book which will be released on December 30,2019. In the small town of Marchburg, Virginia there is an elite girl's school where only the best of the best attend. One October morning a girl is found dead, hanging from the gates.  We flash back to August when Ash arrives from England. The Goode school is a whole other world from what Ash is used to. With judgmental and snobbish girls, secret societies and the honor code, as well as being in a new country she wonders how and if she will survive.  J.T. Ellison is really good at slowly revealing secrets and characters true personalities and this novel is no exception. She leaves you interested in where the story line is going. This is a fun, twi...

3  out of 5 stars Back in 1991 when Heather Cole was twelve her best friend Becca and their two other friends  formed a club called The Dead Girls Club, They named their club after the victims of all the serial killers they were obsessed with as kids. At first the club was innocent enough but then things begin to turn darker. Each night during the Summer before junior high they would meet in one of the empty houses that Becca's Mom was trying to sell . When Becca's turn came around she told her friends the story of The Red Lady, a powerful witch. As the Summer wore on the stories Becca told become darker and darker to the point where it started to affect the girl's friendships. Then one night shortly before school started Becca disappears.  Heather is now a child psychologist, married and living her best life, or so she thinks until an envelope is left at her office with Becca's half of their best friends necklace.  As more of Becca's things find their way to He...

3.75 out of 5 stars  I want to thank Netgalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. When I asked to review this book I didn't realize it was the fourth novel in a series but it is very easy to follow along. As Gemma narrates her story she drops enough info about her town, the people that live there and all the relationships in her life that she makes it very easy to follow along.. This definitely feels like a cozy mystery as it is set in a small town full of interesting characters. I view reading in the way I view food and this book was a great form of comfort food.

4.75 stars out of 5 stars I would like to thank Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Libby Jones was adopted as a baby and for her whole life she has wondered her she really is. Shortly after her 25th birthday Libby receives a letter she has been waiting her whole for for. She will finally know where she comes from. Her life has not been horrible but she has never known who she truly is. However, opening the letter leaves her with even more questions.  What she knows is that twenty five years ago police were called to a house at 16 Cheyne Walk complaining of a baby crying. What they found was three dead bodies from a murder suicide and evidence of a cult. Though there were reports of children being seen going in and out none of the children were there except for one baby girl by the name of Serenity Lamb, aka Libby Jones. As we flash back to the past as Henry tells us in first person the events th...

4 out of 5 stars  Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Claire and her husband Ethan are still devastated over the loss of their son Colton  from a condition caused by Claire's mitochondrial  DNA. Though they have tried to heal from it they are not doing well. Ethan wants another child but Claire is afraid of giving birth to another child destined to die at a young age.. Even though Claire knows it is unfair she is afraid that she could not love a child that is not hers by blood as much. Then one day while on her support board Mito Moms someone mentioned something that makes Claire change her mind as she comes up with a plan to have a biological child after all.  She decides to go to Robert Nash a Doctor working on creating a child with DNA from 3 people.  She gives birth to a miraculous daughter named Abby. This is  a very well written psychological/medic...

4.5 out of 5 stars I want to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an  advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is told in a span of three days in third person. We cover day before, day of, and day after a murder Three couples gather at Glass Beach. As tensions among the friends mount you are not really surprised when someone is found dead. They do let us know it was one of the wives but we do not know which one it is at first. I have to say that this book really read like a modern day Agatha Christie.  

3.75 out of 5 stars I want to thank Netgalley and St.Martins Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Violet is a lonely, shy girl who live in a small, fading town. She doesn't want to fade along with the town. After the death of her sister and her Dad she feels like she is fading even more. Given the chance to attend the  Elm Hollow Academy a private school for girls that just happens to the site for the 17th century witch trials. There she meets Robyn and her clique of friends who seem right out of "The Craft". Robin decides she will befriend Violet and invites her to a study group run by Ms. Annabel. Before she knows it Violet is involved in a dangerous and toxic friendship with Robin leading the way and leading the girls down some very toxic path.  Violet finds herself falling under the spell (sorry for the pun) of Robin.  There is magic and murder and Violet may never recover from all that she experiences in El...

5 out of 5 stars "White ribbons for the young girls, red for the grace year girls, and black for the wives. Innocence. Blood. Death." The sixteenth year of Tierney James life as she prepares to go on her Grace Year she dreams of a better life. A more promising life away from the county, in the outskirts working in labor as she would rather do that if she survives.  You see, in the county each Autumn every sixteen year old girl is given the chance to receive a veil from a male in the county. Those who do not get picked are sent out to become laborers or become prostitutes to service the men from the county. After the veiling ceremony the girls are sent out to spend a year far from the county to fend for themselves and to find their magic and get rid of it. You see, all the men in the county believe that girls and woman are the source of evil. Eve was the first woman and she tainted all woman that came after her. She carried with her a terrible magic and the only way that t...