The Overnight Guest

  In  this blog post, I reviewed Heather Gudenkauf’s The Overnight Guest, this spine-tingling thriller will give you chills and goosebumps on every turned page. Twenty years ago, twelve-year-old Josie Doyle’s world was chattered when her parents and brother were brutally slaughtered on one summer night. Her best friend Becky Allen was presumed missing. She remained the sole survivor, emotionally scarred, and lived a new life. Now, under the name of Wylie Lark, a true crime writer, she returned to where it all happened to discover new clues to the mystery of that cold case on one winter night. Estranged from her teenage son and husband, she revisits the crime scene to help her remember. On that winter night, she receives a surprise overnight from a little girl and her mother, who told their own story about how they escaped being held prisoner for over two decades. Would this connect the dots to her past to solve this case and give it a happy ending?
 
This twisted psychological thriller is well-written and had the same appeal as ripped through the headlines news stories we’ve heard for the past two decades.  I cared for Wylie/Josie on how she suffered a brutal loss at such a young age and how persevered to come out strong as a young woman. I also rooted for Becky and her young daughter on how they endured a wrath of a mad man for over two decades and lived to tell about it.  The location of Burden Iowa was picture perfect for a small-town triple homicide during the summer. The winter storm scenes painted the scenic settings to tell the story in less than one day. The dual themes of the story are to have forgiveness by letting go of the past and shaping your own future by facing your fears.

This heart-thumping thriller will have you at the edge of your seat. I had no issues with this book.  I rated this book, four out of five stars, since it was a bit dark in nature.  If you love psychological thrillers with non-stop action, plenty of dramatic suspense, and lots of deep twisted turns, the Overnight Guest will do that to you. This book is recommended for those who love Sandra Brown’s Chill Factor, true crime novels, TV shows ad podcasts, and noir thrillers.

The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes

  In this blog post, I reviewed Eva Leigh’s The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes, the first installment in the Last Chance Scoundrels historical romance series. This debut historical romance is daring, smoking red hot, and spectacular to keep you in suspense. When Kieran Ransome helped plan his best friend’s narrow escape from marrying his sister Willa with his brother Finn, it placed his family in jeopardy and a pricy ultimatum. As a scandalous rake, he had a year to find a respectable bride as his wife and to reform his reckless ways. If he, Finn, and his best friend Dom don’t make it by the deadline, they would be cut off from their families. So Kieran needed someone to help him respectable in society’s circles for young women. And he found the perfect partner, Dom’s sister, Celeste Kilburn. Due to this scandal, her father wanted her in high-esteem and to find the perfect man as her husband like in Lord Montford. When Kieran sought her out, they made a pact to help each other out: he would help her find her freedom by taking her to the darkest alleys, and she would reform him to Society. An offer they couldn’t dare to refuse, in spite of dire consequences. Together, they knew each other better, in good times and bad, without falling too hard in love with each other, since Montford provided a daring obstacle to them and stood in their way. It was up to Kieran to help Celeste out by setting her free, no matter if it costed his heart, and claim her for his own.
 
This intriguing historical romance keeps you in suspense. I cared for Celeste on how everyone treated her with little to no respect on her wants and dreams. I loved how Kieran challenged her to become a better person while he is what he is, reformed or not. The scenic settings in and around London made it perfect for the location to dangerous dark alleys to safe mansions. The theme of the story is you are who you are, and no one could change it other than you.

This passionate historical romance is heartfelt and moving and pulls at your heart strings. I have one nitpick on this book: astonishment was overused and could’ve been replaced by a better emotion, or shown better. I rated this book, four out of five stars, since it was damn good.  If you love daring  historical romances with steamy romantic drama, sizzling non-stop action, and lots of smoldering suspense, pick up a copy of The Good Girl’s Guide to Rake today. This book is recommended for those who love Bridgerton, historical romances, and classic period novels.

Beefcake and Snowflakes

  In this blog post, I reviewed Judi Fennell’s Beefcake and Snowflakes, the 4th installment in the Beefcake Inc. contemporary romance series. This hot and steamy romance sizzled with a scorching burn. Fifteen years ago, Gina Taormina have been humiliated in front of her class by her crush,  Darien “Froggy” Foster. She haven’t forgiven him about it. When she’s been forced to see a strip show, she couldn’t believe her eyes when Daren Foster danced before her. Gina works at a spa and needs a new message therapist to help out with her clients. That’s when Dare Foster arrived to work his magical hands on her clients and also on her. Things changed between them during a brisk winter season when they’ve done more than mended fences as they’ve gotten to know each other better in a most intimate way. For Dare, he wanted to make up for her and needed to figure out how. As an exotic dancer, he made ends meet and took classes on the side to make a better living. Things had changed between them during a brisk Christmas season when they’ve done more than mended fences as they’ve gotten to know each other better in a most intimate way. But when her spa was in danger of being closed for good, could she trust Darien and his intentions to make things right for them?
 
This steamy Christmas contemporary romance will burns the pages right off the book. I cared for Gina and how she dealt with facing Darien Foster for the first time in twenty years. Forgive and forget, right? But when she worked with him at her salon, it made things more complicated than she at least expected it at first. And Darien as an exotic-dancer-turned-massage-therapist had turned up the heat. He had a way to melt more than hearts in this romance. I loved the winter scenic settings during the Christmas season in Pennsylvania for the location. The  dual themes of the story are that we’ll all mistakes and to follow your heart.

This steamy contemporary romance melts more than ice and snow.  This contemporary romance is sexy, sizzling, and cranks up the heat a notch. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since this was spot on and fantastic. I rated this book, five out of five stars for no specific reason.  If you love twisted  sexy holiday contemporary romances with a sparkle of humor, tons of romantic drama, and plenty of non-stop sizzling action, Beefcake and Snowflakes is right up your alley. This book is recommended for those who love Hallmark novels, holiday romances, and all types of romantic comedies alike.

Deep Water

  In this blog, I reviewed Emma Bamford’s Deep Water. This psychological thriller takes place on the water. It’s a cross of a a modern-day version of Lord of the Flies with a ghastly spine-tingling twist. It all started when Royal Malaysian Navy Captain Daniel Tengku rescued two people from the sea. One’s unconscious, and the other one that’s shocked to her core. That’s when he met Virginie Durand, a newlywed Englishwoman, who fought for her life against a demented mad man, and her husband Jake, who was in a coma. As they sought shelter onto his ship, she told the harrowing story on how they went to this remote desert island called Amarante, a so-called paradise to be away from civilization from the world. It had all the trappings for it, but it was enriched in a dark history and had to abide by certain communal rules with fellow boat mates in the ocean. At first, everyone was friendly and welcoming, except for one sinister snake in the grass, who would do whatever he wants at a high price to keep his own secrets. As the tale grew darker to when they sought for help weeks later, it was up to Captain Tengku to save them after they’re rescued on dry land before they sailed away back home.

 This dark thriller will give you goosebumps on every turned page to leaving you hanging in suspense from start to finish. I cared for Virginia and Jake on how they’ve found paradise at first and lost it entirely later on. They’re a strong powerful couple who escaped dangerous waters when true love conquers all. The central location of Amarante Island is perfect for this thriller on the water for its scenic settings. The theme of this story is survival of the fittest. 

This spine-tingling psychological thriller is gripping and have you at the edge of your seat. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since this gave me goosebumps. I rated this book, four out of five stars, because it was a bit dark in nature.  If you love twisted  heart-pounding psychological thrillers that take place on the water, pick up a copy of Deep Water today. This book is recommended for those who love psychological thriller novels like Alex Marwood and Erica Spindler, and loves thrillers in the big and small screen.

Never Gonna Happen

 In this blog post, I reviewed Heidi Stephens’s Never Gonna Happen. This sweet romcom is emotional and tender-hearted with some bits of humor to keep you laughing in stitches. Emily Wilkinson had lost her home due to a fire, dumped her boyfriend and former boss, and was out of the job in Goodwood, England. She’s the only daughter in a loving family who adored her. But what’s she got to do to move forward from this difficult bind? She looked for a new job and found one with live-in arrangements in Chichester by working as a personal assistant to a millionaire named Mr. Charles Hunter. As she helped him with his business affairs, she ran into Jamie, the stable manager, on the first day of the job. Later she didn’t expect to fall for him, the son of her boss, while she tried to keep business away from pleasure. It became complicated when she dealt with the house staff and Jamie’s brother Adam, who had plans to deal with the family estate. As she worked with her boss to come up with a plan, things would be changing for Emily and Jamie unexpectedly for the future. Would they make a go at it?

 This romcom hit all the right spots with humor and romance to tickle my funny bone.  I cared for  Emily, who had dealt with unexpected challenges in her life, and worked her butt off in a new role and environment. She also had an issue with her self-image. Jamie was a charming bloke, who cared for Emily with a whole heart, and became the perfect mate for her. The  dual scenic locations of Goodwood and Chichester were picturesque and charming.  The theme of this story is love can sneak up to you unexpectedly when you least expect it.

This heart-warming romcom is an emotional tear-jerker. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since I loved it 1000%. I rated this book, five out of five stars, because it was 100% perfect  If you love heart-warming romcoms, check out Never Gonna Happen this summer. This is recommended for those who love romcoms, classic and present-day, and loves Hallmark movies. 

Need You For Keeps

  In this blog post  I reviewed Marina Adair’s Need You for Keeps, the first installment in the Heroes of St. Helena contemporary romance series, this sweet pet-rescue contemporary romance pulls at your heart strings and brings tears to your eyes.  Shay Michaels is an animal lover and a foster parents to unwanted dogs and cat in St. Helena, California. She would do anything to find them a forever home. But not if her neighbors like Deputy Jonah Baudouin had anything to do about it. While he’s running for sheriff,  he ran into Shay, he knew she would be nothing but trouble with her fostering pets. He also dealt with her competition, who’s up to no good to win the election at all costs. Before she landed on the hot seat, she needed a solution to house all the pets in a shelter… and someone to keep an eye on Kitty Fantastic, a runaway kitten. Jonah had enough troubles to last a lifetime: his uncle’s wandering eye, cat-sitting a kitten, and dealing with Shay’s past, though he had developed hard-core feelings for Shay. He didn’t know what to do with them either. He wasn’t going to let anything stop Shay from obtaining his dreams by doing the right thing and sticking by her. But would they get past the hurt to make a go of it in the end?
 
This pet-rescue contemporary romance warmed my heart and gave me all the feels in this book.  I cared for  for Shay who wanted to do the right thing and a had big heart for rescuing pets. Jonah, as her neighbor, and the deputy, made a perfect match for her and became a cat-loving hero in his own right. .The scenic location of St. Helena, California was wistful and charming for its settings.  The theme of this story is to let love find its way to your heart.

This heart-warming contemporary romance is an emotional tear-jerker. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel since I loved it. I rated this book, five out of five stars, because it was lovely and perfect  If you love heart-warming contemporary romances that deal with animal rescues, put Need You for Keeps on the top of your list. This is recommended for those who loved great pet rescue contemporary romance novels from Debbie Burns and Casey Griffin among others.
 

Carolina Moonset

 

In this blog post, I reviewed Matt Goldman's Carolina Moonset. This captivating thriller speaks volume about families, the ties that binds us to them, and old secrets that lurked through the shadows. It all started for Joey Green, who flew to Beaufort, South Carolina, to visit his mother and his ailing father, Marshall. He's a middle-aged divorced father from Chicago and didn't know what to expect when he visited his father for a week. His father has been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, and during this trip, he had hallucinations from people in the past that were interconnected to Hammond Island, and the rich prominent people who owned that land. Joey also did expect to fall in love with his parents neighbor's only daughter Leela, who's also divorced, and had kids of her own. At first, they experimented with dating and unknown feelings for each other. When Thomas Hammond was shot in the thunderstorm, the Beaufort PD believe that Joey's dad did it due to long-stemmed hatred he had against them in the past. It was up to Joey and Leela to put together the pieces together in Beaufort and learn more of his father's secrets in the past. He had brought them together and temporarily split them apart to solve this puzzle. But when the week ends, they go their separate ways until they can be together again with a sweet ending.

This thriller tugs at your heart and kept me in suspended suspense. I cared for Joey who was there for his father and gave him piece of mind. And I thought that Leela was intriguing with her way of thinking to help him out.The scenic location of Beaufort, South Carolina, was mesmerizing for the setting to take place on the swamp and also in the small town. The dual themes of the story are cherish your loved ones when they need you the most and petty jealousy will find its way to sneak up to you for greed.

This fascinating thriller is wonderful and fascinated to read from start to finish. I had nothing to nitpick on this novel. I rated this book, five out of five stars, because it was well-written and has feature film potential. If you love heart-warming thrillers that deal with an unsolved mystery and family, check out Carolina Moonset today. This is recommended for those who loved great novels that's set in the south and has a little love story on the side.