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Fragility Unearthed (The Cascade book 3)
Fragility Unearthed (The Cascade book 3)
Rebecca Royce | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
204 of 250
Kindle
Fragility Unearthed ( The Cascade Book 3)
By Rebecca Royce

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Malcolm is missing. Levi is taken. And all the light from the world has gone with them.

Kendall Malcolm thought the world ended when her marriage ended and her life fell apart. She was wrong. Things could be a lot darker. She stands at the precipice - leader, mother, warrior - placing herself between the world and darkness.

But does she have to do it alone? It's looking that way.


3rd in the series an I think there is only 1 more book! Another very good instalment from Rebecca what I love most is Kendall being a middle aged mum. She has a few personal losses in this book not including the ending but she fights on and does what she needs to.
  
Pretty Girls: A Novel
Pretty Girls: A Novel
Karin Slaughter | 2016 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.4 (20 Ratings)
Book Rating
Claire Scott leads a seemingly perfect life - she's beautiful and adored by her wealthy husband, Paul. However, Claire's life is shadowed by the disappearance of her eldest sister, Julia, over twenty years ago. Julia went missing while in college and was never seen again. In the aftermath, Claire lost not only Julia, but her other sister, Lydia, as the sisters have been estranged for years. As a result, Claire has clung to Paul and the comfort and security he provides . However, a new tragic event changes everything for Claire - and will eventually lead her to look at everything in her life differently, including Julia's disappearance and her relationship with Lydia.

I really enjoyed this novel - it's engaging and suspenseful: filled with twists and turns. Sometimes you see them coming and other times you don't. It's a quick read, but not a particularly light one - be prepared for a dark read. The book is raw, violent, and even heartbreaking at points. Most of the story unfolds from Julia and Claire's point of view, but we also hear a little bit from their father between chapters. As the novel progresses, we learn not only about the present day mystery (which is captivating) but what happened to their sister, Julia, so long ago.

The book's strength is that it presents not only a compelling and interesting mystery tale, but a chilling portrait of its characters, as well. You get a good look into the lives of Lydia and Claire and their own psychological motivations. It goes beyond a thriller into a story of parenthood and sisterhood. Frankly, as a parent, there are parts of this book that break my heart and made me want to never let my children out of my sight! But, truly, that was what made it so good - it deftly portrayed the evil that can befall them in the world.

Some of the plot points are a bit fantastical and it suffers from the trope where Claire and Paul Scott just have unlimited financial resources, but overall, I found this one fascinating. Definitely a worthy read.
  
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Merissa (11961 KP) rated Cinderfella in Books

Apr 12, 2023  
Cinderfella
Cinderfella
Xavier Neal | 2015 | Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story is about a young man, little more than a boy himself, who finds that he has to become the 'man' of the family at far too young an age. For Connor, life sucks but he is still trying to do his best as he has a beautiful little girl to try for. Mak is indeed a blessing and certainly steals the show whenever she is around. Those nearly three-year-old tantrums though? Yeesh! Far too lifelike 😉 Gianna is the total opposite of Connor, from what he can see. A privileged lifestyle, nothing that's needed and what she has, she doesn't appreciate.

This story shows you that you cannot judge by what you think you know. Everyone lives behind a mask of some form or another. What may look like a privileged life may be anything but that. This is a lesson that Connor has to learn, along with others, if he is going to make a go of his life.

I loved that the book was written from the male's perspective and I also loved the fact that they didn't just jump straight into bed. How this was written made the growth of their relationship all the more special and all the more heartbreaking when it didn't work the way you wanted it to.

There were a couple of things that didn't sit right for me which is why I've given 4 stars, but to be fair, I can't actually think of a different way to do it either. I loved that they were putting on a show and it was pressured, but the idea of him wanting to be an actor just didn't feel right.

This is a feel-good story with a twist on the classic fairytale (obviously) but still manages to stand on its own feet. Definitely recommended for all fans of YA/NA Contemporary.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
 
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
August 13, 2016
  
AA
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fashion, intrigue, danger and surprises. After a Fashion will leave you breathless with anticipation.

In New York City, 1882 Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is one of the wealthiest men in the country. His goal in life is to acquire more wealth than Mr. Vanderbilt ever did. That is, until Ms. Harriett Peabody, who has a love of fashion and designing, happens across his path. When they enter into a business agreement, they have no idea the plans that God begins to unfold. As humans, we tend to think that the plans we have made are the best we will ever see in life. But, God’s plan for your life is far greater than you could ever dream of.

I cannot begin to adequately express the joy it was reading After a Fashion. Quite simply, it is one of the best books I have ever read. The style that Jen Turano uses to tell this story is unique and engaging. I had a very hard time putting the book down, which was unfortunately quite often due to the needs of my 2 kids. However, this book had me laughing, yelling and even tearing up by the time I was finished. I cannot praise this book enough! If you don’t read any other book this year, I recommend After a Fashion for certain. It is easy to read and the action never ceases. I look forward to reading Jen Turano’s previous books as well as her new release this July In Good Company.

I received a free digital edition of After a Fashion from Bethany House Publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
  
A Side of Murder
A Side of Murder
Amy Pershing | 2021 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Mars a Return to Cape Cod
Samantha Barnes, Sam to her friends, grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but left to go to culinary school and become a famous chef. Thanks to an inheritance and a new job writing about food in the area for a local paper, she is back. Her first assignment is to review a new restaurant in town, but the good food is quickly forgotten when she finds a dead body floating in the water next to the restaurant. The police think it was an accident. After all, the victim was a known drunk, so she could have easily fallen in and drown. Sam thinks something more sinister is happening. Can she prove it?

There is a good mystery here, and I enjoyed seeing how Sam figured everything out. Unfortunately, there is just as much set up, introducing us to the people in Sam’s life and filling us in on her past. The result was a pace that was uneven. I did still enjoy it since I liked Sam and the supporting characters. We saw hints of the depths to the characters that I’m sure we’ll see more of in future books in the series. I was bothered by a cliché that several of the characters fell into, however, especially since it doesn’t fit one of the characters at all. The book ends with recipes for a suggested four-course casual dinner with friends. Overall, I enjoyed this virtual vacation debut.