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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Keep You Close in Books
Jul 20, 2019
What would you do to protect your son? Would you betray your son or your country?
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Keep You Close asks is "What would you do to protect your son. Would you betray your son or your country?" It is the second novel by Karen Cleveland. Her first, Need to Know, was a New York Times Bestseller.
Cleveland's background as a CIA analyst with most of her time spent working in counterterrorism helps bring authenticity to her work. While she writes fiction, she is able to get into the mindset of Stephanie Maddox, the head of the FBI's Internal Investigations division, so well it has a feel as if she is writing her memoir. Her debut novel's main character, Vivian Miller, works as a CIA counterintelligence analyst. Hmmm...
Maddox believes her near-perfect son is being framed and searches to discover the truth. Including CIA and FBI agents, makes choices made by Maddox more believable. In an environment whose very nature requires people to doubt and mistrust, she needs to decide whom she can trust and what to believe.
Keep You Close is a stand-alone novel. However, Need to Know's main character does appear in this novel. I did not realize this until I finished reading this novel.
Cleveland does not have any future works listed on Goodreads.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/19.
Keep You Close asks is "What would you do to protect your son. Would you betray your son or your country?" It is the second novel by Karen Cleveland. Her first, Need to Know, was a New York Times Bestseller.
Cleveland's background as a CIA analyst with most of her time spent working in counterterrorism helps bring authenticity to her work. While she writes fiction, she is able to get into the mindset of Stephanie Maddox, the head of the FBI's Internal Investigations division, so well it has a feel as if she is writing her memoir. Her debut novel's main character, Vivian Miller, works as a CIA counterintelligence analyst. Hmmm...
Maddox believes her near-perfect son is being framed and searches to discover the truth. Including CIA and FBI agents, makes choices made by Maddox more believable. In an environment whose very nature requires people to doubt and mistrust, she needs to decide whom she can trust and what to believe.
Keep You Close is a stand-alone novel. However, Need to Know's main character does appear in this novel. I did not realize this until I finished reading this novel.
Cleveland does not have any future works listed on Goodreads.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/19.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Last House Guest in Books
Jul 23, 2019
A stand-alone, slow-burn thriller by author of All the Missing Girls
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
I discovered Megan Miranda a few months after her 2016 novel, All the Missing Girls, was published. Her latest, The Last House Guest, is the 3rd novel I read by her.
This slow-burn thriller is a story of a small, summer vacation town with a definite line dividing the haves and have nots with one exception, Avery Greer. Sadie Loman who only has to say who her family is and doors are opened and police look the other way befriends Avery. For a decade, they are inseparable each summer - until Sadie is found dead.
While it took a long time for me to get into the book, I am glad I kept reading. Told from Avery's point of view, using flashbacks, we are shown the summer of and the summer following Sadie's death.
Miranda is known for creating a small town with a lot of secrets. The Last House Guest is no exception. The characters are not what they first seem to be. She peppers her story with small details that can help you figure out secrets and the big reveal right before the characters.
According to Goodreads, we can expect to see more from Megan Miranda. I cannot wait!
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/22/19.
I discovered Megan Miranda a few months after her 2016 novel, All the Missing Girls, was published. Her latest, The Last House Guest, is the 3rd novel I read by her.
This slow-burn thriller is a story of a small, summer vacation town with a definite line dividing the haves and have nots with one exception, Avery Greer. Sadie Loman who only has to say who her family is and doors are opened and police look the other way befriends Avery. For a decade, they are inseparable each summer - until Sadie is found dead.
While it took a long time for me to get into the book, I am glad I kept reading. Told from Avery's point of view, using flashbacks, we are shown the summer of and the summer following Sadie's death.
Miranda is known for creating a small town with a lot of secrets. The Last House Guest is no exception. The characters are not what they first seem to be. She peppers her story with small details that can help you figure out secrets and the big reveal right before the characters.
According to Goodreads, we can expect to see more from Megan Miranda. I cannot wait!
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/22/19.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Contagion (Dark Matter #1) in Books
Aug 11, 2019
Contagion, the first book in Teri Terry's Dark Matter series
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
In Teri Terry's Contagion, Kai's sister, Callie, is missing. She disappeared a year ago and Kai is beginning to lose hope Callie will ever be found. That is until he receives a call from Shay, who is most likely the last person to see Callie before she disappeared.
With the help of Shay, Kai seeks the truth about Callie's disappearance. Their search takes them through areas affected by a painful and contagious epidemic, an epidemic that mimics the flu, and which almost no one survives.
While the description presents a typical lost child/search storyline, the book is more than that. Notice the epidemic? It is more than a common epidemic.
The chapters are short and are time-stamped which ensures the reader knows the timeline events occurred. The story is presented from Callie and Shay's perspectives. Some reviewers on Goodreads commented they were confused in the beginning but, after reading a few chapters, everything made sense.
Contagion is the first book in Teri Terry's Dark Matter trilogy. The complete trilogy was released in the UK and the 1st book has been finally released in the USA! Deception (book 2) and Evolution (book 3) are available for purchase from the UK.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/11/19.
In Teri Terry's Contagion, Kai's sister, Callie, is missing. She disappeared a year ago and Kai is beginning to lose hope Callie will ever be found. That is until he receives a call from Shay, who is most likely the last person to see Callie before she disappeared.
With the help of Shay, Kai seeks the truth about Callie's disappearance. Their search takes them through areas affected by a painful and contagious epidemic, an epidemic that mimics the flu, and which almost no one survives.
While the description presents a typical lost child/search storyline, the book is more than that. Notice the epidemic? It is more than a common epidemic.
The chapters are short and are time-stamped which ensures the reader knows the timeline events occurred. The story is presented from Callie and Shay's perspectives. Some reviewers on Goodreads commented they were confused in the beginning but, after reading a few chapters, everything made sense.
Contagion is the first book in Teri Terry's Dark Matter trilogy. The complete trilogy was released in the UK and the 1st book has been finally released in the USA! Deception (book 2) and Evolution (book 3) are available for purchase from the UK.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/11/19.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Liar's Room in Books
Jan 25, 2019
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.
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.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Grace Year in Books
Jan 22, 2020
has been described as The Handmaid's Tale plus Lord of the Flies with The Hunger Games thrown in
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett has been described as The Handmaid's Tale plus Lord of the Flies with The Hunger Games thrown in. Every book, movie, song, etc can make us think of other work. It does not mean it is not a good story. Actually, those are pretty good books to be compared to.
In The Grace Year, girls are banished for their sixteenth year. No one talks about what they call the grace year. All Tierney James knows is not everyone returns. Those who do are changed. Some are mentally changed. Others are physically damaged with missing limbs, scars, etc.
I enjoyed the storyline but it was a very slow burn. It took a while for me to get into the story. Once I did, I was hooked. It just took too long to capture my attention.
I read her earlier book, The Last Harvest, and found it was also a slow burn but worth reading. Knowing I will enjoy her books overall means I will keep reading until they grab me. With both books, once they did, I could not stop reading.
The Grace Year was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/21/20.
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett has been described as The Handmaid's Tale plus Lord of the Flies with The Hunger Games thrown in. Every book, movie, song, etc can make us think of other work. It does not mean it is not a good story. Actually, those are pretty good books to be compared to.
In The Grace Year, girls are banished for their sixteenth year. No one talks about what they call the grace year. All Tierney James knows is not everyone returns. Those who do are changed. Some are mentally changed. Others are physically damaged with missing limbs, scars, etc.
I enjoyed the storyline but it was a very slow burn. It took a while for me to get into the story. Once I did, I was hooked. It just took too long to capture my attention.
I read her earlier book, The Last Harvest, and found it was also a slow burn but worth reading. Knowing I will enjoy her books overall means I will keep reading until they grab me. With both books, once they did, I could not stop reading.
The Grace Year was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/21/20.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Girl in Red in Books
Feb 6, 2020
Retelling of LIttle Red Riding Hood in a post-apocalyptic wasteland
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry is a retelling of the classic story Little Red Riding Hood. In this version, Red is living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland caused by a highly contagious disease. Everyone Red knows has died but she hopes her grandmother will still be alive since her house is isolated. Most survivors have been relocated to quarantine camps but Red would rather go to her grandmother's house.
It is told using alternating timelines that reveal the beginning and the spread of the disease and Red's struggle to get to her grandmother's house in present day.
The book took some time for me to get into the story but it has a nice pace to it. You quickly realize it is not a mystery or suspenseful book. It is a believable retelling of the perennial classic Little Red Riding Hood so there will not be any twists and turns but involves a well-written and imaginative retelling.
The Girl in Red is one of the many retellings Christina Henry has written. Others involve the classic works of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and the Little Mermaid.
The Girl in Red was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Horror.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/6/20.
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry is a retelling of the classic story Little Red Riding Hood. In this version, Red is living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland caused by a highly contagious disease. Everyone Red knows has died but she hopes her grandmother will still be alive since her house is isolated. Most survivors have been relocated to quarantine camps but Red would rather go to her grandmother's house.
It is told using alternating timelines that reveal the beginning and the spread of the disease and Red's struggle to get to her grandmother's house in present day.
The book took some time for me to get into the story but it has a nice pace to it. You quickly realize it is not a mystery or suspenseful book. It is a believable retelling of the perennial classic Little Red Riding Hood so there will not be any twists and turns but involves a well-written and imaginative retelling.
The Girl in Red is one of the many retellings Christina Henry has written. Others involve the classic works of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and the Little Mermaid.
The Girl in Red was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Horror.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/6/20.
For One More Day
9.3
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"As a child, Charley "Chick" Benetto was told by his father, "You can be a mama's boy or a daddy's...
mitch albom for one more day ghosts love grief acceptance
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Heatwave in Books
Jun 25, 2020
Stand-alone novel by the author of the D.S. Imogen Grey series
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Katerina Diamond, the author of the D.S. Imogen Grey series, is back with a new stand-alone novel, The Heatwave. I read Truth or Die, book #5 of her series, and was looking forward to reading The Heatwave as soon as I read the description
"The heatwave is back. And so is the killer."
Felicity fled her town and her life, determined not to return. That is until sixteen years later, and a second girl went missing. She holds the answers to what happened to the first girl and is determined to find the second before it is too late.
Diamond hooked me from the beginning. The book is 400 pages, but it was such a page-turner it felt much shorter.
As with all thrillers, there are twists, turns, and surprise reveals. The Heatwave kept me guessing until the very end. I thought I had figured everything out, but I was so wrong. After going back over the story, I realized I picked up on many of them but could not piece them all together correctly.
Goodreads does not list any other upcoming books of Katerina Diamond but added her to my "authors to read" list to keep watch for them.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/25/20.
Katerina Diamond, the author of the D.S. Imogen Grey series, is back with a new stand-alone novel, The Heatwave. I read Truth or Die, book #5 of her series, and was looking forward to reading The Heatwave as soon as I read the description
"The heatwave is back. And so is the killer."
Felicity fled her town and her life, determined not to return. That is until sixteen years later, and a second girl went missing. She holds the answers to what happened to the first girl and is determined to find the second before it is too late.
Diamond hooked me from the beginning. The book is 400 pages, but it was such a page-turner it felt much shorter.
As with all thrillers, there are twists, turns, and surprise reveals. The Heatwave kept me guessing until the very end. I thought I had figured everything out, but I was so wrong. After going back over the story, I realized I picked up on many of them but could not piece them all together correctly.
Goodreads does not list any other upcoming books of Katerina Diamond but added her to my "authors to read" list to keep watch for them.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/25/20.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Rock in Books
Jan 6, 2021
4.5 stars.
This starts with Cooper, at age 13, finding out that his parents are divorcing and that his dad has had another "family" on the go for the last five years. He's asked to go spend time at his dad's every weekend to get to know his new family and he meet's Jace, his dad's girlfriends son. They initially dislike each other but as they begin to know each other it turns into a deep friendship. And as they get older, the friendship turns into more.
I honestly had no idea what to expect with this and I read a few reviews on Goodreads and figured that this was going to put me through an emotional wringer. Boy, it did. I think because we see it all happen. From the tender ages of 13 and 14, to 23/24. We see it all grow; the friendship and the hope for more, the love for Lila and their now extended family. How much it hurts them both when they're apart. It's so beautifully written. So beautifully thought out. I really enjoyed this.
It's hard to right a detailed review without giving loads of things away that happen and affect this story but if you love MM Romances then this should definitely not be missed.
I feel like I have to mention Ernie. Ha! He's a legend in my eyes by the end. And Lila. *sigh* I cried like a baby for a while.
This starts with Cooper, at age 13, finding out that his parents are divorcing and that his dad has had another "family" on the go for the last five years. He's asked to go spend time at his dad's every weekend to get to know his new family and he meet's Jace, his dad's girlfriends son. They initially dislike each other but as they begin to know each other it turns into a deep friendship. And as they get older, the friendship turns into more.
I honestly had no idea what to expect with this and I read a few reviews on Goodreads and figured that this was going to put me through an emotional wringer. Boy, it did. I think because we see it all happen. From the tender ages of 13 and 14, to 23/24. We see it all grow; the friendship and the hope for more, the love for Lila and their now extended family. How much it hurts them both when they're apart. It's so beautifully written. So beautifully thought out. I really enjoyed this.
It's hard to right a detailed review without giving loads of things away that happen and affect this story but if you love MM Romances then this should definitely not be missed.
I feel like I have to mention Ernie. Ha! He's a legend in my eyes by the end. And Lila. *sigh* I cried like a baby for a while.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Into the Deep (Into the Deep #1) in Books
Jan 8, 2021
3.5 stars. 3 star for the first half. 4 star for the second half.
Well, I downloaded this as a freebie back in 2012 and it had been sitting on my kindle for ages so as part of Goodreads' "We (heart) YA"'s ABC challenge I decided to read this.
For the first 20-25% I was a little bored with it, finding it hard to get into and Ivy's friends were hard to like. However when Brant really came a part of her life, after the school classes and he more or less saved her, I started to really get into it. Romance reader and all... :)
I really liked the progression of their relationship going from wary classmates to boyfriend/girlfriend. It was a complicated journey thanks to Ivy wanting someone else who wanted her friend but they got there in the end.
As for the plot to blow up the school...I was stumped as to who was behind it. I think I ran through every member of the plot apart from the ones we were centring on. Still had no idea.
I feel I ought to mention Charlie too. She was pretty cool and seems like she'd be a great friend to have.
I know there's a second book in the series but after reading the synopsis of it I'm not sure I want to read it, mainly because it sounds like Brant and Ivy aren't together anymore :(
Well, I downloaded this as a freebie back in 2012 and it had been sitting on my kindle for ages so as part of Goodreads' "We (heart) YA"'s ABC challenge I decided to read this.
For the first 20-25% I was a little bored with it, finding it hard to get into and Ivy's friends were hard to like. However when Brant really came a part of her life, after the school classes and he more or less saved her, I started to really get into it. Romance reader and all... :)
I really liked the progression of their relationship going from wary classmates to boyfriend/girlfriend. It was a complicated journey thanks to Ivy wanting someone else who wanted her friend but they got there in the end.
As for the plot to blow up the school...I was stumped as to who was behind it. I think I ran through every member of the plot apart from the ones we were centring on. Still had no idea.
I feel I ought to mention Charlie too. She was pretty cool and seems like she'd be a great friend to have.
I know there's a second book in the series but after reading the synopsis of it I'm not sure I want to read it, mainly because it sounds like Brant and Ivy aren't together anymore :(