The New Mother

Published earlier this year. 4 stars

 *I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

A new mother is being gas lighted by her neighbor who doesn't want to be married anymore. None of the characters are particularly likeable. And I didn't feel like this was even a thriller. More like a drama. But the story unfolded nicely and there were things that happened that I was happy for.

It also made me very happy to not have had to deal with post partum. I will definitely keep reading novels by this author.

Hard Dough Homicide

 Catching up slowly!!

 *I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my honest review.*

Second in a series and I felt like it was just as strong as the first. A Caribbean bakery in Brooklyn, NY trying to find it's place amongst the other bakeries. Lyndsay has plans for the bakery as far as production and meals and catering down the road, but when a persistent caller asks for a dinner party at the bakery multiple times, Lyndsay and her family relent and take on the job. And then the guest of honor dies in the middle of the first course and the bakery is under suspicion for murder again.

I enjoy the dynamic between the family members and also the somewhat quirky customers. I enjoy the lightness of the cozy mystery and the danger that this series also portrays. I feel like the whole of it is not dumbed down like some of the cozies and I really appreciate that.

When I was approved to read this book, I went back and read the first in the series just to keep things in order and I am really enjoying the series and look forward to more stories by Olivia Matthews.

The first in the series is Against the Currant and got 4 stars from me. This one got 5.

For You and Only You

As usual, the books are so much better than a movie or TV series!!

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for my honest review.*

I love Joe Goldberg! I love the books because there is a sense that Joe is the original Joe throughout the series in the books. I feel like the TV series is not keeping with the original Joe.

**Stepping off my soapbox now**

Joe is going to Harvard and it is everything that you imagine it is... pretentiousness at it's peak! And Joe calls it all out in the book and in his mind and it is perfection! Joe does leave some loose ends and I feel like they will come back to bite him in the butt (cup of piss, anyone?) and lead to more excitement in future novels.

I felt like the push to write in the novel was a little boring, but since Joe was in Harvard for a writing fellowship, it was necessary. And shows how Joe can blend into more worlds than just the NYC bookstore or LA and the organic grocery. He's very adaptable and I can't wait to see how he adapts in the next novel!

Four stars!

The Only Survivors

Trying to catch up. Just doing what I can. This book was published earlier this year. 

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Marysue Rucci Books for my honest review.*

I will always read Megan Miranda novels! 

Cassidy survived a tragedy in high school with several other classmates and they have become known as the survivors. And then one commits suicide on the first anniversary of the accident and the group starts having reunions every year to keep everyone.... accountable? Finally Cassidy tries to take back her life and not make this year's reunion. Then she gets a text that her closest ally in the group has OD'ed.

Miranda has a fantastic way with story telling. Slow burns and tidbits of knowledge throughout and it makes you question everyone and everything until the end.

I will always read Megan Miranda novels! 4 stars

The Soulmate

Such a good read! Four stars for me. Hepworth is a wonderful story teller and the narration on the audio books are great. Released April 2023.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my honest review.*

Sally Hepworth is always a favorite of mine so I was excited to get approval to read The Soulmate. Gabe and Pippa are raising their 2 daughters in a newly purchased house that backs up to deadly cliffs. Cliffs that are a favorite spot for people to commit suicide. Gabe has been taking it upon himself to talk people and try to save them. Then one night, he doesn't save a woman. Pippa doesn't trust herself when it appears that Gabe may have pushed the woman off the edge and she is someone he knew before they moved.

As the story unfurls, we learn how Gabe and Pippa met and dated and fell in love and have the perfect marriage in her eyes. They are soulmates after all. But things are never really as they seem.

I enjoy the way that Hepworth shares her stories - in dueling time periods, different points of view, doling out just enough information in each chapter to keep you wanting to read the next. The books are fantastically paced and just make me want to keep going through the story. The twists in this one - I did not see them coming! Highly recommend.