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Finding Grace
Finding Grace
K.L. Slater | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

At what age do you allow your child to walk home from a friend's house alone? It is an argument many couples have had for decades. In Finding Grace by K.L. Slater, Lucie and Blake Sullivan agree to allow Gracie to walk home from her friend's house the day after her ninth birthday. What Gracie does not know is both sets of parents have agreed to watch her walk halfway. What could go wrong? It is a 5 minute walk, on the same street, and without her knowing, Gracie would be watched the whole time. Except Gracie never arrives home.

K.L. Slater writes about a fear parents are constantly worried about. Everyone has a past. Many of those prior events are ones we would like to keep hidden. She shows that every couple has secrets from each other and from the rest of the world.

She is able to reveal the main characters' secrets in a way that I continued rooting for all of them to come out this alright.

Her novel is fast paced and difficult to put down. This is the 1st novel of hers I have read and have added her to my "author to read" list.

Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/24/19.
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Promise in Books

Feb 28, 2019 (Updated Mar 1, 2019)  
The Promise
The Promise
Teresa Driscoll | 2019 | Thriller
8
7.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
More of a slow building suspense novel then a psychological thriller.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

I was intrigued as soon as I read the opening of The Promise by Teresa Driscoll. The story has a few twists and turns but, based on the book's description and opening, I expected it to be much darker than it is. However, although I enjoyed the novel, I would not consider it to be dark. It is more of a slow building suspense novel then a psychological thriller.

Three girls, Beth, Sally, and Carol, were best friends at a boarding school and as close as sisters. Something happens and they make a promise to never tell the secret of what happened.

Years later, all of them have been affected by the secret in different ways. Beth and Sally are still close friends but Carol has become estranged. When they find out the boarding school is to be sold and demolished, fearing their secret will be revealed, Beth and Sally attempt to find Carol..

Driscoll wanted to establish a intense connection between the girls but did not want to make them sisters. The setting helps you to understand why the girls would keep the secret.

I have added Teresa Driscoll's I Am Watching You to my want to read list.

Published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/28/19.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) Mar 1, 2019

What exactly is a 'physiological thriller'? Is it like a psychological thriller but with more exercise...? Sorry.

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Christine A. (965 KP) Mar 1, 2019

Haha. Oops. That might have changed my rating. Gotta love spell check. I'll fix it. A huge thanks for letting me know but mostly thank you for reading the review.

Rise of the Hearts: Rebirth
Rise of the Hearts: Rebirth
Antoine Bonner | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Rise of the Hearts: Rebirth is the second book in Antoine Bonner's Rise of the Hearts series. Using Goodreads' rating system, I gave this book 3 stars. I gave the first book only 1 star. It was a challenge to even finish the first novel.

I liked Rebirth and do not think it was because I was familiar with the characters since I could not relate to them in the first novel. The writing improved since the last novel. In the first one, the story did not flow but it flowed well in Rebirth.

The first novel is NOT intended for Young Adults. Based on the description, I had mistakenly thought it was appropriate for younger readers. There are several passages that are not appropriate for young adults. I cannot think of any passages that would not be appropriate in the second book but still feel the series in not a young adult series.

This novel is only 100 pages long and is a very quick read. The story felt as if it was an episode in the middle of a television series. It felt as if it was only part of a story. I would read the next episode.

Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/11/19.
  
Notes on a Nervous Planet
Notes on a Nervous Planet
Matt Haig | 2018 | Health & Fitness, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences, Science & Mathematics
9
9.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Modern life is a bit rubbish really.
For me, reading a Matt Haig book is like being told you're going to be OK for 300 or so pages. In this book, he discusses the effects of modern life on the mind and body of the modern human - and I'll agree with him that it's not all good. We need to step away from our screens, away from the constant pressure of social media and the news, and do something else, something more self nurturing. After reading this, I deleted all the news outlets that I followed on my Facebook account and put a screen time limit on my social media accounts. I look at the news once a day (or at least I try to!). They ARE addictive. I find myself reaching for my phone to check Facebook and Twitter all the time. I need to put my phone further away, and reach for a book instead!
I really liked the short chapters in this book, and the use of very short chapters which were like a little pep talk or an 'almost' meditation. I'm notoriously bad at reading non-fiction, so this was a really well planned book for people like me, purely because of the short chapters.
If you have concerns about modern life and it's stresses and strains, I would say that this is a good book to make you think about changes you could make.
  
The Liar's Room
The Liar's Room
Simon Lelic | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
7.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

I was immediately intrigued by the tagline of "The Liar's Room by Simon Lelic. "One room. Two liars. No way out".

Susanna Fenton is not who she seems to be. Years ago, she left her old life and reinvented herself with a new identity.

Now, she is an overprotective mother to teenage Emily. Emily loves her mother but wants a little freedom. When a cute, but older, boy pays attention to her Emily is thrilled and more than willing to keep him a secret from her mother.

Susanna also works as a counselor and meets with a new client, Adam Geraghty. She knows she should trust her instincts but does not and quickly discovers Adam also is not who he seems to be.

Their session becomes a verbal tennis match between them and Emily is the prize.

I had noticed Lelic's "The New Neighbors" in the store and added to my "want to read" list. After reading "The Liar's Room" I have moved it to "need to read soon"! This book was a thriller that was a great read but not easy to figure out people's secrets.

This is a creepy and disturbing tale full of lies, truths, and suspense.

Published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 1/25/19.
  
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Midge (525 KP) Feb 6, 2019

Great review, Christine! I want to read this, too.