Tag: The Best Leaders are Readers

Good Girl, Bad Blood

June 26, 2024

Do you enjoy listening to podcasts like Crime Junkie? Do you enjoy books about investigating a missing person case? Well, I have a book for you! In “Good Girl, Bad Blood” written by Holly Jackson, Pip Fitz-Abobe friends brother has gone missing and she makes her return with season 2 of the Good Girls Guide to Murder Podcast and we can only imagine where this investigation will go.

The Good Girls Guide to Murder sequel comes back with vengeance with the investigation with the missing person case of Jamie Reynolds. Once again taking the listener/reader on the wild ride of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seats from start to finish.

This maybe a young adult series but I have always found books investigating true crime or books about podcasting about true crime right up my ally. Some readers might figure out the ending half way through but other readers will be shocked by the ending all the same. I enjoy reading stories about teenager taking things into their own hands and ignoring the adults in their lives proving the adults wrong all along. It just proves that adults should listen to the teenagers in their lives more often.

This book also brings back all of the main character from the first book in the series and introduced us to a few more that had important roles in this book. As same with the first book, I was rooting for the teenagers from start to finish to solve this crime! 

June 18th Book Releases

June 18, 2024

1.) The Midnight Feast

Author: Lucy Foley

From the author of The Guest List comes another locked-room mystery where not everyone will make it out alive. At the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxury resort in an ancient forest, the guests each have their own agenda. On the guest list: the founder, the lover, the mystery guest, the kitchen help, and the detective.

2.) Middle of the Night

Author: Riley Sager

When he was ten years old, Ethan camped out in his backyard with his best friend Billy only to awaken in the morning to find their tent slashed open and Billy gone. Thirty years later, Ethan returns to his childhood home. Odd happenings force Ethan to reexamine what happened and lead him to the nearby forest where a clandestine group is studying a crumbling mansion.

3.) The Next Mrs. Parrish

Author: Liv Constantine

In The Last Mrs. Parrish, Amber was able to claw her way to become Jackson Parrish’s wife. While Jackson has been serving time for tax evasion, Amber has enjoyed being the queen bee of Bishops Harbor. With Jackson’s release from prison imminent, Amber’s time and money is running out. Meanwhile, Daphne has never looked back after divorcing Jackson. But when her daughter runs away desperate to see Jackson, Daphne must return to Bishops Harbor and reenter a vicious cat-and-mous game.

4.) Same As It Ever Was

Author: Claire Lobardo

At fifty-seven, Julia Ames has left behind the drama and self-sabotage that plagued her younger years and settled into a happy marriage in the suburbs. Then, a chance meeting with an old acquaintance who almost resulted in the end of her marriage sends Julia for a loop. Compounded by her upcoming empty nest, her son’s shock announcement, and her estranged mother’s reappearance, Julia finds herself falling into old patterns and questioning her current happiness. 

5.) Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

Author: Kirsten Miller

In little Troy, Georgia, Beverly Underwood and Lula Dean have always been enemies but their rivalry reaches new levels when Beverly serves on the local school board. In a crusade to ban anything questionable from the school library, even if she hasn’t read it, Lula Dean creates a lending library outside her house full of wholesome books. Except someone has replaced Lula’s books with “banned” books which end up changing the lives of the townspeople who read them.

The Kiss Quotient

June 17, 2024

Have you never had trouble admitting you needed assistance with something, have you ever tried online dating before? Well do I have a story for you. When Stella needs help in the bedroom, she turns to online dating apps for assistance and what could possibly go wrong with that.

Stella who has Asperger’s and has never really dated anyone and had slept with 3 men in her past. Really only for them and never to her satisfaction. So she figured that she turned to online dating/escorting sites for guidance. She made it quite clear she only wanted practice and never a relationship. That’s because she already had someone in mind. She just needed to build confidence. That’s was of course she met Michael. The escort from online.

Michael it turns out was the most down-to-earth patient man for the job. He accepted the fact that Stella had a checklist and that this was only going to be a one time thing. However, he shortly realized that things were going to go slow and that Stella was going to need more than one night to be comfortable.

Like I said in the past, it is the characters that make a story for me and it was no different with this one. Truthfully I wasn’t totally sold on the plot of the story at first. However, once I was introduced to Stella and Michael and got to learn more and more about them, I was sold!

One thing I truly appreciate about Helen Hoang is that she writes about characters with neurological disorders in such a bright light. So many times we read about these people in a bad light. And in Helen Hoang stories they get to shine and I absolutely love that! In this story both Michael and Stella had flaws and stars and they were treated all the same!!

Us Against You

May 27, 2024

Have you heard about Beartown? A town dedicated to their towns hockey team! Do you enjoy reading about a town divided but all the while the town is trying to pick themselves up from a terrible situation and they just are struggling to do so! Well do I have a book for you! It is called “Us Against You” by Fredrik Backman. A story of a small towns trials and tribulations!

Beartown has never been the same after their star hockey player is accused of attacking the coach’s daughter and is forced out of town. Leaving the town and the girl Mia to pick up the pieces of what he destroyed. The town is now divided like never before. The once popular hockey is dismantled and half the team goes to the next town over to play. While the loyal players stay and try to create a team with what is left.

My favorite aspect of Fredrik Backmans stories of his characters. The characters make the stories what they are. His characters have backstories, strengths, weaknesses and depth to them. These are characters that you fall in love with, cry for and root for from beginning to end. Mia, Anna, Benji, and their families really made the town of Beartown what it is. A town is just a town. But a town is a home with the people who live in it!

From the every first book that I’ve read from Fredrik “A Man Called Ove” to this one, I have fallen in love with all of his characters! That is why I will always read a book by Fredrik Backman.

King of Wrath

January 31, 2024

Do you enjoy books that involve arranged marriages? How about books about blackmailing and how about reading about high society? If you said yes to any of these, oh how I have a book for you!! “King of Wrath” written by Ana Huang. When plans don’t go has planned, Vivian finds herself in an arranged marriage that once again doesn’t go as planned.

In Vivian’s family, if you are not married and having a family with a man who has been approved by the parents, by a certain age, you will be forced into an arranged marriage. That is exactly what happened to Vivian. Now she finds herself in an arranged relationship with a well-known member of high society Dante Russo. However, Dante is hiding a secret that could hold the potential of ruining everything.

The first thing you must know is that I am a sucker for any books that involve high society, a strong-headed female and a powerful, with a dash of a puppy-like heart for a male character!! And let me tell you, this book had everything!! Including a mixture of a dark and sneaky past from at least one of the main characters!! Between the Twisted Series and now this book, I know that Ana Huang as become one of my go to authors for a good guiltily pleasure romance book!!

Ninth House

January 25, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Society Life, Mystery and Magic are just a few of many words that have come to my mind after reading “Ninth House” written by Leigh Bardugo. When Alex Stern gets adopted into a Magic based society at Yale University anything could happen.

Alex Stern was not just your average college drop out living in California. She was hiding a traumatic pass and a hidden power. After another traumatic accident she finds herself in the hospital bed facing a second chance. The second chance is to go to Yale University on a free ride and with a mission to monitor the secret societies on campus. This take Alex on a wild ride of magic rituals and solving murders

One thing I enjoyed from this book is storytelling of the society and what was happening right in front of everyone, and what was also happening behind closed doors. I also appreciated the murder mystery aspect of this story as well.

However, I did find myself having difficulty following along with story. For example, I had a hard time figuring out how some of the characters were connected. Also trying to figure out what the true mission the characters were trying to accomplish.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

January 12, 2024

World Building, Relationships and Challenges are just 3 of many words that have come to my mind after reading “A Court of Thorns and Roses” Written by Sarah J Maas. A wild journey of Faeries, Magic and Challenges that all started with a a simple hunting trip.

When Feyre killed a wolf to simply feed her family, she could have never impinged what would happen. A beast came bursting through her cottage and told her that because she killed the wolf, she had broken the trendy between his land and the human land. Now she must go live with him in his land.

Feyre quickly learns to adapt to her new surroundings and develops a new life with The Beast Tamlin and his trusty side-kick Lucien. She soon realizes that is it not her captors, that she has to worry about but the magical and yet dangerous creatures that are living around the lands. She doesn’t what kind of challenges are ahead for her but she knows that there is a reason behind everything. Even being taken away from her family to go live with Tamlin and Lucien.

One thing I enjoy most about fantasy books is the world building, character development and the action pact nature of that this books can often bring. Let me tell you, Sarah J. Maas did not disappoint with the first book in the well know “A Court of Thorns and Roses” Series. I found myself inthralled with the different lands history, rooting for the characters and at the edge of my seat to the very end!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy books!! I can’t wait to get my hands on the other books in the series!!

One Day In December

December 18, 2023

Romance, Christmas and forbidden romance are three themes that have come to my mind after reading “One Day in December” written by Josie Silver. Imagine falling in love at first sight at the bus station, to find out that, the mystery man is your best friend’s boyfriend.

One day Laurie was getting on the bus when she spotted the most beautiful man she had ever seen. They locked eyes and fell in love without even talking to each other. A year later she finds out the new boyfriend of her roommate and best was the guy from the bus station and the man she had been searching for, for the best year. Laurie decided it was in the best interest of both their friendship and the new relationship not to bring the fact that Jack was the mystery long along.

Even though the concept of this story was great. The execution was just not there.

One of my favorite things about this book was the friendship between the female main character Laurie and her best friend Sarah. They became roommates out of need but became best friends by choice.

One thing I disliked about this book was the male main characters. Besides Luke, Jack and Oliver only really seemed to think of themselves. Jack lied to Laurie just to save a relationship that was going nowhere and he was a crybaby when it came to the accident. Oliver only was a hero on vacation. When it came to reality his job was the only thing that mattered to him. He did not care about what Laurie wanted. He wanted a trophy wife.

Another thing I disliked about this story was the length. Even though this book spans multiple years, it did not need to be as long as it was. There was a lot of unnecessary fluff that made the book drag on.

Overall I would give this book a 3-star rating. It was a cute story that could have ended halfway through.

Twisted Lies

November 21, 2023

Fake Relationships, Lies, and Intense Passion are just three things of many that have come to my mind after reading “Twisted Lies” by Ana Huang. When this landlord and tenant find themselves in a fake relationship, it could only end in disastrous means when the The Twisted Lies come out.

When Stella’s best friend Jules moves out of their joint apartment, it leaves Stella in a tough spot. So she makes a deal with the landlord Christian to help him with his plants and he promises to lower the rent. They soon realize that they could both benefit from being in a fake relationship with each other for their own personal and professional gain.

However, just like every other great fake relationship trope they begin to actually fall for each other. This is until the secret that Christian has been holding onto since the day they met threatens to destroy them both.

Just like all the others in the Twisted Series, Ana Huang did not disappoint with Twisted Lies ,in the steamy, passion and deep relationships and captivated characters and storylines. This entire series was wrapped up perfectly this with a book with following up with the friends and previous couples, from the other books and their storylines. This is certainly a great finish to a great series!!

A Good Girls Guide to Murder

October 31, 2023

Crime, Investigation, and Small Town are the three words that came to my mind after reading “A Good Girls Guide to Murder” written by Holly Jackson. When Pippa Fitz-Amboli sets out to have her Senior Capstone project be about solving the murder of 15-year-old Adie Bell. It brings the whole town on a rollercoaster ride.

Pippa planned on doing this project and investigation on her own. However, when the suspected killer’s brother finds out what she is doing, they team up to prove his brother’s innocence.

“A Good Girls Guide to Murder” is just that a guide through Pippa’s entire investigation. Filled with transcripts of interviews, and manuscripts of her paper full of her thoughts, opinions, and facts gathered in the case. You could feel the pressure that Pippa felt trying not only to do well on her paper and keep relationships with the people that she is closest with, who are attached to the case. All the while trying to help prove a dead man’s innocence. At times it could be a lot more than Pippa had thought it would be. Both physically and emotionally.

I was captivated from start to finish with this one. As a fan of true crime, this book had everything I was looking for and more. From the personal connection to the crime, to how Pippa laid everything out there to get the job done and prove everyone wrong!