Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

I've been a fan of Lisa Jewell's since I read "The Girls in The Garden." I love her quirky style and aptitude for slow-building suspense. When I first read the premise of "Then She Was Gone," I was concerned it would be dark in a way that I wasn't sure I could handle, so I put it aside for weeks. It is dark, and weird, and sometimes sad, but I loved it! It's twisted in a way that's hard to even describe, but once the roller coaster starts it doesn't stop until you finish the book. I couldn't put it down. Now I wish my book club hadn't broken up so we could read this and talk about how messed up it is.

[Review] Carbs and Cadavers by Ellery Adams

I really loved this latest book from Ellery Adams and read it in about two days. It's a cozy mystery that's fun without being overly cutesy. The "Flab Five" supper club initially forms to improve their diets and overall health, but by the end they are all close friends who hopefully will have many more adventures together. I especially identified with James and his obligation to care for his angry widowed father while trying to restart his life after divorce. Since most of the book is told from his perspective, I hope the series continues and that we get to know more about the other club members in subsequent books. I also liked that there wasn't some miracle weight loss by the end. They are all still on their journey, but have found new tools to help them with their weight loss goals, the most important of which is support from others on the same path.

Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Review] The Case of the Deadly Doppelganger

This book was just so much fun! I enjoyed spending time with Dr. Ribiero and his crew, and of course "the Higgins" and his agency. Although I hadn't read the first book I was able to follow along fairly well. That being said, I will definitely be seeking out the first book to learn more about how Kester joined the supernatural detective gang. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and Amberjack for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Review] A Mortal Likeness

I love a good historical mystery and this was a very good one. The setting is Victorian London and the story revolves around the disappearance of the baby of a wealthy, but dysfunctional family. I liked the characters very much and fell into the story almost immediately. Hugh, Sarah and Mick prove in the end that they are a family, albeit an odd one, that works together and takes care of each other. I loved the ending too and hope we will see more about Sarah's other family in future books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Review] Magick and Mayhem

This was a random pick from the library and turned out to be a very entertaining little witchy read. As much as I liked the main character Kailyn, she was eclipsed by Merlin (the real one) who accidentally ends up being transported to modern day and develops a love for pizza and lots of other foods, too! When Merlin teams up with Kailyn's aunt Tilly to help solve the mystery of who killed a local attorney in his office, hilarity ensues. This book was just plain fun. The small-town atmosphere was nicely done and made me eager to get my hands on the next one! 

[Review] Odd & True by Cat Winters

I read this in July and even though it's not the end of the year yet I'm calling this one as my personal favorite book of 2017. I was already a fan of the author and was excited by the premise, which did not disappoint. I loved this world and these characters, and I need Cat Winters to tell me it doesn't end here because I'm too damn invested now. These sisters kick ass and I can't wait for their next adventure! Get a hand mirror and a purple coat and put this on your reading list. 

Much thanks to Amulet Books and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

[Review] King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard

I should have just stopped at Red Queen. But no, I put myself through the agony of reading King's Cage even though I couldn't bring myself to finish the second book in this series, Glass Sword, because it was so boring. King's Cage was slightly better than GS, but not much. It's another boring book filled with too many characters who don't do much of anything. A few interesting things happen but then it gets boring again, and honestly some of the peripheral storylines are just dumb. Does Farley really have to eat constantly just because she's pregnant? Give me a break. This was originally supposed to be a trilogy, but now there will apparently be a fourth book. I've learned my lesson though and will not being reading it. It's a shame because Red Queen, in my opinion, was a good book. I flew through it and loved the world that Aveyard created. It was unique and had many layers, but not too many that you had to fight your way out. She lost something in the second book though and never regained it, like a car spinning out of control. The push to do a trilogy (or even more) is most likely what killed this series, because it feels stretched beyond what it should or could have been.