This was just as good as I had hoped that it would be! Eve and Roarke are newly marriedThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was just as good as I had hoped that it would be! Eve and Roarke are newly married and Eve encounters the first dead body in this tale before the honeymoon is even over. A string of unrelated deaths that appear to be suicides leaves Eve questioning what really might be happening. From the start, I was hooked by this mystery and loved watching Eve work to get to the bottom of things. I thought this was a very smartly written mystery that pulled a lot of significant elements together.
I thought that Susan Ericksen did a fantastic job with the story. I believe that the voices that she uses for the various characters are well done and do a great job of bringing the story to life. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This is the fourth book in the In Death series but it could be read as a stand-alone since the mystery is completely contained in this installment. Readers who choose to read the series in order will enjoy watching the personal relationships between the characters grow and change. I can’t wait to read more of this entertaining series.
I had a great time with this book! I haven’t read too many books in David Baldacci’s imThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time with this book! I haven’t read too many books in David Baldacci’s impressive backlist but I have enjoyed the ones that I have picked up, so I was thrilled to get the chance to dive into his newest book that kicks off the new Mickey Gibson series. I liked the characters right away and was quickly absorbed by the mystery. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Mickey Gibson is a former detective turned private investigator and single mother of two small children. Let’s just say that she has her hands very full juggling the demands of her children with that of her job. She is lucky enough to be able to work remotely from her home but when she gets a call to check something out in person, she agrees. She finds a body belonging to a man that had been a part of the witness protection program. Mickey is soon pulled into a case that might be bigger than she could have ever imagined.
Mickey was an incredibly authentic character. I liked the fact that motherhood was not glamorized in this book but it was obvious how much Mickey loved her kids. She was a smart and intuitive investigator who refused to give up. I felt like there were just the right amount of twists and turns to keep things very interesting and I couldn’t wait to see how things would work out in the end.
I thought that the narrators did a great job with this audiobook. Lisa Flanagan handled the bulk of the narration with Corey Carthew covering all of the male dialogue. I thought that they both had a wonderful range and I loved the voices that they used that helped to bring this cast of characters to life. Their voices complimented each other nicely and I thought that their performance added to my overall enjoyment.
I would recommend this book to others. I was hooked by this story immediately and found it hard to put down. I am excited by the fact that this is the first book in a new series and cannot wait to go on further adventures with Mickey Gibson.
I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing....more
Do you know how some people want to talk things to death? Nothing ever seems to get donThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
Do you know how some people want to talk things to death? Nothing ever seems to get done because they spend all of their time just talking about what they might do without really doing anything.
That is this book. So much talk. So little anything else.
I have been reading this series for a very long time. This is the 29th book in the series and I might have missed 2 or 3 books over the years but I have read close to all of them. I have loved some of the books and have been less enthusiastic about others. I can’t seem to completely give up on Anita and the gang so I keep coming back. I have to say that this is a book that could probably be skipped. It felt like this book was setting up the next book in the series more than anything else.
I was pretty hopeful when the book opened with a scene involving Edward. I tend to enjoy the books when he plays a part but he didn’t have much of a role in the story. I was also excited when a character that I have loved for a long time showed up after a long absence. But there was so much talking. And I needed at least a bit of something else.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Kimberly Alexis did a great job with the narration. I have enjoyed her narration in the past so I knew that the audiobook would be a good choice. I am not sure that I would have finished the book without her narration to get me through.
I won’t be recommending this one to others. I think that long-time fans of the series may be interested in giving this one a try but I hate to say that I found it lacking.
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio....more
I thought that this was a wonderful conclusion to a series that I have thoroughly enjoyThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this was a wonderful conclusion to a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed. It was wonderful to finally see Macey and Max together, although I felt like Macey was justified in being upset with her father for not being a part of her life for the past 13 years. I felt terrible for Macey at times because it seemed like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders and the man she loved was just out of reach. I have a tough time putting this book down once I started reading it.
Nicholas Iscariot is in Chicago trying to get his hands on a couple of artifacts that would give him more power. Macey, Chas, and Max will do everything in their power to make sure that does not happen. This book had many emotional ups and downs for the characters and things looked desperate at times. There was plenty of action to keep things very interesting and there were quite a few moments when I wasn’t sure how things would work out for this group of characters that I have grown to love.
I would definitely recommend this series to others. I would recommend reading the series in order since the events from previous books come into play in this installment. I hope to read more of Colleen Gleason’s work very soon.
I thought that this was a very entertaining story. Piper has recently moved in with herThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this was a very entertaining story. Piper has recently moved in with her father, stepmother, and half-siblings. She feels out of place and starting a new school in her senior year is less than ideal. She decides to start a podcast investigating the death of another student 17 years earlier as her senior project. She is paired with another student, Jonas, who runs his own podcast and will serve as her mentor. I loved the way that Piper dived into this project headfirst and couldn’t wait to learn what really happened to Layla Trello.
Layla Trello went missing after a party and her body was found in a secluded area 2 weeks later. Some people think her boyfriend or his brother was involved but the case remains unsolved. Piper starts interviewing people immediately, and I was surprised by some of the things she discovered. Piper has her own issues to deal with and I feel like she grew a lot over the course of the story. Jonas was also a great character and I thought his story added a lot to the story as well.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to others. The pacing of the book was very well done and I felt like the short chapters helped to make this feel like a very speedy read. I hope to read more of April Henry’s work again very soon in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers....more
This was really good! I have liked Emily Henry’s work in the past so I was eager to tryThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was really good! I have liked Emily Henry’s work in the past so I was eager to try this book and was not disappointed. It was one of those books I did not want to put down once I started reading and enjoyed every moment of the journey. I was wholly invested in the story and wanted to see good things happen for this fantastic cast of characters.
Harriet and Wyn were one of those perfect couples until they broke up a few months ago. They haven’t told their friends and the trip Maine cottage was supposed to be Harriet’s. She is more than a little surprised to find her ex waiting for her when she arrives at the cottage. They decided to pretend like they are still together which is especially fun since their friends have upgraded them to the room with the king-sized bed. I had a great time watching these two try to figure things out.
I liked the way that we learn the history of Harriet and Wyn’s relationship along with their friend group slowly as we work our way through the book. I thought that Harriet and Wyn seemed like they had a lot worth fighting for and I liked the chemistry between them. I also really liked the dynamics of the group and thought that they felt really realistic. I thought that all of the characters added a lto to the overall story.
Julia Whelan did a fantastic job with this audiobook. It’s no secret that she is one of my favorite narrators and the performance she delivers in this book is a perfect example of why I enjoy her narration as much as I do. I thought that she handled all of the characters’ voices very well which helped to bring the story to life. I am positive that her narration added to my overall enjoyment.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a wonderful story featuring likable characters at a turning point in their lives. I can’t wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Penguin Random House Audio....more
This was not the kind of book that I would normally pick up but I am glad that I did. IThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was not the kind of book that I would normally pick up but I am glad that I did. I think that it is good to step outside of your comfort zone from time to time and try something new. It keeps things interesting and allows me to see how my tastes may have changed. If you had told me that I would enjoy a book that contained a fair amount of poetry, I wouldn’t have believed you but that is exactly what happened. I found this to be a rather enjoyable read overall.
This was an interesting collection of letters, poems, recipes, and essays that came together to tell a story of love. I probably haven’t read any poems since I was in school and they forced it upon me (unless you count the occasional greeting card, which I do not). These were so much better than the poems that I remember and I loved the way that they came together to tell a story. We see the author’s childhood, his relationship with his parents, the love he had for his wives even if the marriages ended in divorce, and the love he has for his daughters. I really liked how the author included recipes since we often share our love through food. I am glad that I took a chance and decided to give this one a try.
I received a review copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company....more
This was fantastic! The story opened in spectacular fashion hooking me right away and tThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! The story opened in spectacular fashion hooking me right away and the intensity never let up. The story was very exciting and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. Once I started this book, I did not want to put it down. I am so glad that I took a chance and gave this entertaining book a try.
This story is told from two very different points of view. Julia is a college professor who is getting her daughter, Cora, moved onto campus as the story opens. They are joined by Julia’s ex-husband and Cora’s father and his new wife. When someone starts shooting into the crowd of students and parents, Julia’s quick action most likely saves her daughter’s life. Ren is a trained assassin. She operates under a strict set of rules making sure those she kills are not the innocent. She’s not so sure that her husband is still following that set of rules. Both women are determined to figure out what really happened that day.
Megan Tusig does an amazing job with the narration of this book. It was always really clear which point of view she was reading and I thought that she was able to add just the right amount of emotion and excitement to her reading. I loved how she was able to bring this story to life which only added to my overall enjoyment of the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought that this book was very exciting and full of enough twists and turns to keep me hooked. I thought that the characters were incredibly well done and interesting. I would love to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Mulholland Books and Hachette Audio....more
This was fantastic! I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t remember enough from the first This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t remember enough from the first book but I found it really easy to slip back into this fantastic world. I thought that the author did a wonderful job of reminding the reader of important events from the first book at key points in the story. Meren, Reven, Cain, and the rest of the group have their work cut out for them. Eidolon seems always to be one step ahead of them but I have faith that they will figure out how to defeat him.
I found this story to be incredibly exciting with enough action to keep the story moving. There were times when things looked really bleak for Meren and the rest of the key characters and I have to admit that I was worried for them more than once. I loved the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into this installment which helped to keep me glued to the pages. The world-building in this series continues to be top-notch!
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of YA fantasy. This book was exciting, with great characters, fantastic world-building, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. I am very eager to get my hands on the next book to see what happens next!
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled: Teen....more
This was a very enjoyable read! I couldn’t wait to see what Meddy and her Aunties wouldThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a very enjoyable read! I couldn’t wait to see what Meddy and her Aunties would have to deal with in this book. Meddy and Nathan are getting married and the Aunties are ready for the big day. The wedding will be taking place in England and they have hired a company similar to their own to handle all of the wedding details. Things get very interesting once the wedding festivities get underway.
I feel like the title of the book really should have been – How Meddy Missed Her Wedding. I thought that the story was funny but I really wished that Nathan had been present for more of the story. When Meddy learns that her wedding vendors are up to no good, they are determined to foil their plans. The Aunties are at their absolute best and are dressed to impress, complete with komodo dragon fascinators and a new list of English slang.
Risa Mei did a great job with this story. She did an amazing job of bringing this colorful cast of characters to life. I thought that she did a great job of bringing the humor of the story out. I had such a great time with this book that I found myself wanting to listen for hours at a time. I do believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I didn’t like this book quite as much as the first book in the series but I still thought it was a very solid read. I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible since the events of the first book are often referred to in this installment. I hope to see Meddy and the Aunties have more adventures in the future.
This was fun! I have had this book on my shelf for a long time and have heard great thiThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fun! I have had this book on my shelf for a long time and have heard great things about it so I thought it was finally time to give it a try. Meddy was a great character and her Aunties were just a lot of fun. I couldn’t wait to see how this group of characters would work everything out in the end.
Meddy’s mother sets her up on a date with what she thinks is a nice boy. It turns out that he isn’t so nice and things go very wrong on that date. So wrong that the night ends with Meddy and her Aunties trying to figure out what to do with his body. Everything that you could imagine (and some things you couldn’t) going wrong does and this family ends up trying to deal with the body while fulfilling their roles in their family’s wedding business.
Risa Mei did a fantastic job with the narration. She was able to bring this colorful cast of characters to life. Once I started listening to the story, I didn’t want to stop. She really brought the humor of the story out and made the listening experience very enjoyable. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I had a lot of fun with Meddy and her Aunties and cannot wait to see what kind of trouble they find in the next book in this series.
I enjoyed this one! I am so glad that I finally tackled this series. It was a lighter lThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! I am so glad that I finally tackled this series. It was a lighter listen but had enough zombie action to keep my interest at all times. I really appreciated the humor that was worked into the story. I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible since details from the first two books are frequently referred to in this installment.
In this installment, David and Sarah are trying to make it to the wall that has divided the United States in half. They have some pretty close calls with other survivors and pick up a couple of individuals to help them on their mission along the way. David is having a few side effects from his close call in the previous book that made things extremely interesting.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Cassandra Campbell did a great job with the story. I really think that she has been the perfect narrator for this series. She really brought the characters to life and helped to make the story even more exciting. I would definitely pick up more books in the series if given the chance.
This was fantastic! Sam needs a place to stay for a while so she goes home to her motheThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! Sam needs a place to stay for a while so she goes home to her mother only to find that things have taken a strange turn. Her mother is not acting like herself and the house seems to have reverted to the way it was when her grandmother was still living. Not to mention the fact that vultures have taken up residence in the neighborhood. I really had a blast with this audiobook from beginning to end.
I love the thread of humor woven throughout the story and couldn’t wait to find out what was really going on. I liked how Sam’s expertise in entomology plays a role in the book and some of her observations raised a lot of questions. I thought the story was incredibly original and I loved that every time I thought I had things figured out, I quickly realized that I was completely wrong.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Mary Robinette Kowal did an excellent job with the story. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I liked the voices she used for the various characters in this story. She did a great job of adding just the right amount of excitement into her reading which helped to bring the story to life. I believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this wonderful story.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought that many great elements came together to tell a very original and entertaining story. I hope to read more of T. Kingfisher’s work very soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio....more
I thought that this was very well done. This is one of those books that doesn’t fit nicThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this was very well done. This is one of those books that doesn’t fit nicely into any single genre box. There were elements of horror, some coming of age, a little bit of fantasy, and even a dose of romance. I thought all of these elements came together to tell a story that was almost impossible to put down. I had a great time with this well-crafted story.
The world has suffered an outbreak that has everyone on edge. Mia’s mom, Izzy, is a victim of this illness and now must live as a vampire (although I don’t think that the word vampire is ever used in the book). The story is told from two different points in time 2010 when Mia was a child and her mother was first turned, and the present day. Mia has been through so much in order to protect her mother and I really wanted to see her start to live for herself. I thought that Mia was a great character and my heart really went out to her. She starts to wake up and think about her own needs when she meets Jade and I loved seeing Mia making plans for the future.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Chase Sui Wonders did a fabulous job with the story. I think that this is the first time that I have had the chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I enjoyed her performance. I thought that her voice was very pleasant and I had no problem listening to her narration for hours at a time. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a unique and entertaining vampire story. I was quickly invested in Mia’s life and was eager to see things work out for her. I hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Nightfire....more
This was exciting! I was hoping that this would be an action-filled story and I was notThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was exciting! I was hoping that this would be an action-filled story and I was not disappointed. Derek was a great character. He is flawed but he wants to do what is right and cares deeply about his family. He’s the guy that you want in your corner when things take a turn for the worse. This retired Marine finds himself dealing with a group and he is unsure of their motives. He turns to his friend at the FBI and goes undercover to find out what is really going on. He thinks that he has everything under control but it may be more dangerous than he first believes.
This book had all of the action that I had hoped it would. I loved the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into the story that made it hard to put down. I loved just how capable Derek proved to be even when he found himself in situations that appeared to be impossible. Derek was a great character and I really wanted to see things work out for him.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Jay Snyder did a fabulous job with the story. I believe that this is the first time that I have had a chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I was impressed. He did a great job of bringing this action-packed story to life. I found his voice to be very pleasant and was able to listen to this book for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to fans of military thrillers. This book was incredibly exciting with great characters and plenty of situations that kept me guessing. I was very impressed by T. R. Hendricks’s debut novel and look forward to reading more of his work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Forge Books and Macmillan Audio....more
This was fun! I love zombie books and enjoyed the first book in this series so I decideThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fun! I love zombie books and enjoyed the first book in this series so I decided to jump right into the second book. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book so I would encourage others to read this series in order if at all possible. In this installment, David and Sarah have decided to go into business together, working to exterminate zombies for others.
There really weren’t any big surprises in the story but I had fun watching Sarah and David navigate a world full of zombies. Not to mention the evil scientist and the kid they end up partnered with. I thought that the humor in the story was well done and loved seeing just how much David and Sarah care about each other. There were a few surprises before that really had me worrying if Sarah and David were going to make it.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Cassandra Campbell did a fantastic job with this story. I love the voices she uses for the characters and thought that she made the story feel even more exciting. She does a great job of delivering the humor of the story as well. I hope to start reading the next book in the series very soon.
I really enjoyed this story. Lily is a bestselling author and is hoping to start her drThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this story. Lily is a bestselling author and is hoping to start her dream job. She is shocked to learn that she failed the background screening because she didn’t actually complete the degree she thought she had earned a decade earlier. So she is back to school to finish those final credits and get her diploma. When she realizes the TA is none other than her college boyfriend, Jake Cho, she is more than a little surprised.
I went into this book expecting a fun romance and romance does play a role in the story but I felt this book was women’s fiction more than anything since the focus is on Lily’s journey and growth. I couldn’t imagine finding out I needed to go back to school after a decade and I respected that Lily immediately took the steps necessary to correct the error. Her roommate and best friend were fantastic and I loved the way they always seemed to be ready to do whatever they could to be supportive. It does take some time for Jake and Lily to work out all of their issues but I was thrilled to see them get a second chance and loved the chemistry that they shared.
I would recommend this book to others. I really enjoyed being able to tag along with Lily as she took this journey and loved watching her work through some pretty big issues. I look forward to reading more of Suzanne Park’s writing in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books....more
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. After loving Cogman’s Invisible Library series, I was This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. After loving Cogman’s Invisible Library series, I was eager to pick up her newest book. I have not read The Scarlet Pimpernel so I cannot tell you how this book compares to the source material but I can say that this was a delightful tale. Set during the French Revolution (but with vampires), Eleanor joins a group that works to save people they feel are unjustly punished. I found this story to be quite exciting and I loved that it kept me guessing until the very end. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Eleanor is a great character. She gets the opportunity to work on this mission due to her uncanny likeness to a well-known individual. I loved that she is able to think quickly and handle impossible situations rather competently. There were a few times that I was worried about how things would work out for Eleanor and the others that she was working with. I liked the fact that this book was set during an alternate French Revolution and enjoyed what the vampires added to the story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Georgia Maguire did a wonderful job with the story. I liked the various voices that she used and thought that she did a fantastic job of adding just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I felt like she brought the story to life through her reading which only added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very unique and exciting story that was filled with a cast of great characters. I cannot wait to read more of this promising series!
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio....more
This was fantastic! I finished this book a couple of days ago and can’t seem to get it This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! I finished this book a couple of days ago and can’t seem to get it out of my mind. David Joy is an exceptional storyteller and I feel that this is a perfect example of his work. If you haven’t read David Joy yet, do yourself a favor and move his books to the top of your tbr! He writes beautifully about critical social issues and does it in a way that really makes you feel something.
The characters in this story came alive on the page and the small town setting felt very authentic. This book made me feel uncomfortable at times because of how poignantly the topic of racism is addressed. At the heart of this story is Toya, a young black woman staying with her grandmother while finishing college. Toya is vocal and speaks out against the racism that has always been a part of the area’s history. She is killed after a protest and the hunt is on to find her killer. In a town where law enforcement often looks the other way when the Klan is involved, it may prove difficult to find justice for Toya.
The mystery in this novel was incredibly well done but it is the frank discussions about race that will stick with me for a very long time. The town sheriff doesn’t believe that there are any racial issues in his small town. The sheriff has known Toya’s grandmother, Tess, for a very long time and considered himself to be good friends with her late husband. When he seeks Tess’s opinion on the racial issues in their North Carolina town, he doesn’t expect the response he gets.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that MacLeod Andrews did a phenomenal job with the story. I believe that the voices he used helped to bring the cast of characters to life. He added just the right amount of emotion to his reading. I found his voice to be very pleasant which only added to my overall enjoyment.
I highly recommend this book to others. I don’t feel like I can write a review that will do this book justice. It’s just that good. David Joy is an incredibly talented author that more people really should be reading. If you take any of my recommendations, make it this one and get your hands on one of David Joy’s books just as soon as you can.
I received a digital review copy of this book from G.P Putnam’s Sons and Penguin Random House Audio....more
I loved this book! I have been a huge fan of this series for a very long time. I have rThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! I have been a huge fan of this series for a very long time. I have read the original books in the series twice so I know the story. I had no idea how much I needed Bones’s point of view. But apparently, I did. I started this book in the afternoon and did not put it down. I clung to every word because even though I already knew the story, I didn’t know how Bones saw things.
I would recommend reading this series in order. This is the second book from Bones’s point of view which mirrors One Foot in the Grave which is the same basic story but from Cat’s perspective. At the start of the book, Cat and Bones are apart and I had assumed that it was a tough time for both of them but actually seeing what Bones was going through broke my heart a bit. There were some pretty exciting scenes and I loved seeing just what Bones thought during some pivotal moments.
Will Watt did an amazing job with the audiobook. I think that his voice suits Bones’s character perfectly and I loved how he was able to bring this story to life. I thought that his voice was very pleasant and he added the perfect about of emotion to his reading. This is an audiobook that I know I will be listening to again in the not-so-distant future. I am positive that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I loved getting to see a story that I already love from a different perspective. I had such a great time getting to spend a few hours with characters that I have loved for years. I cannot wait to read more of Jeaniene Frost’s work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Nancy Yost Literary Agency (NYLA)....more
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