My Wife is Missing by D.J. Palmer Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. Publishing May 2022. (Not my picture.)

I could have easily devoured this book in one sitting if I had the time. That ending was truly unexpected. As this story unfolds, we are led down the path of Natalie’s ‘escape’ from Michael, Michael having some long-buried secrets. This story also throws in what happens when a person suffers from chronic insomnia, anywhere from hallucinations to paranoia, not knowing who to trust including oneself. Not to mention the detective who decides to join Michael on his quest to bring Natalie and their children home.

The characters in this book help shape this story. Tina who is Natalie’s boss and friend. Audrey who is new to Dynamic Media (the company where both Natalie and Tina work). Bryce and Addie (Natalie and Michael’s children). Natalie and Michael themselves. Detective Kennett from New York, who has a vested interest in what happened so long ago to Brianna. Michael’s mother. Sarah Fielding. Natalie’s parents. Kate, long-time friend of Natalie. While some of the roles are minor and others major, each of these characters play an important part in the telling of this tale. This will definitely go on my shelf for a second read!

Unmissing by Minka Kent Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. (Not my picture.) 

This story is told in the voices of Merritt and Lydia (Merritt being Luca’s now wife, Lydia being his “missing” wife). This tale is bound to keep the reader intrigued. It is such a different story line … one that won’t disappoint. Lydia has been missing, presumed dead, for the past nine years. Imagine Merritt’s surprise when she opens the door one evening and comes face-to-face with her “late” husband’s first wife, Lydia. At first, she didn’t believe it was Lydia. I mean, really, how could it be? Merritt closes the door in Lydia’s face, thinking she was a random stranger and feeling the need to protect her children, Luca being out of town. Lydia finds herself befriending Delphine, the owner of one of Bent Creek’s shops. As the story progresses, some deep-seated secrets come to light. But who really has the most to hide? Is it Luca, or is it Lydia? There is much going on within the pages of this tale.

There are a couple of twists contained within the pages of this story that happen unexpectedly and are sure to keep the reader turning pages. I found Merritt, Lydia, and Luca to be very well-developed characters that played well off of each other, exposing the others for who they truly are. Delphine is also an important character and not one to be discounted. What a tangled web of truths and untruths that unravel by the end of this tale. Get ready for this one to hit the shelves February 2022!

Children of Hope by Michael C. Fine Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. (Cover photo provided by publisher.)

What started out as a fun night out for sisters Hope and Angel turned into something far worse. Because of the overturning of Roe v Wade and the sisters being in a state where a “trigger law” was in effect, Angel was forced to have the baby that she did not want or ask for. Angel made Hope promise her to do something in the future that would ensure no other young teen, such as herself, would have to go through what she went through. Hope went on to medical school and was able to position herself in a research lab to further her quest. While in today’s world, we are not quite “there” yet, the technology posed in this tale is not really all that farfetched. Enter the government and some men wanting to change some laws, one being that they were able to overturn Roe v Wade and then went on to propose a Sanctity of Life bill, which Hope was desperately fighting against. Enter a group of three men who met went about secretly helping alleviate the troubles of good people. This is certainly a tale of good versus evil, but who is the final victor?

When this book hits many reading radars, it is going to lend itself to asking many, many questions. This book takes a look at what could potentially happen if Roe v Wade is ever overturned (personally I hope it is not). It is going to beg the question of “what if” in a lot of cases. I commend Mr. Fine for taking a chance and writing such a book, especially since there is so much controversy surrounding this particular topic. Perhaps it will change some minds, open some hearts, provide a better understanding. Maybe the technology that is portrayed in this tale will come to fruition one day.

The Fiancee by Kate White Book Review

 

It is the time of year when the senior Keatons open their incredible home to their families for a week-long vacation. They do this every year and everyone, well almost everyone, enjoys their time spent there. This year, the excitement was no different but the events certainly were. There is one extra surprise guest this year, that of Nick’s love interest of the moment, Hannah Kane (a wannabe actress). Summer, Gabe’s wife, who is in the acting industry, recognizes her but can’t remember her last name. Hannah lies to her about the plays they were in together a couple years ago. Summer can’t figure out why Hannah has lied, so she makes it her quest to get to the bottom of things. Gabe thinks she is overreacting and has become obsessed with Hannah owing to Hannah’s success that Summer hasn’t quite attained. Death happens during this year’s summer vacation leading to stress and grief and strange things happening. Another death happens … perhaps a case of mistaken identity which leads to more stress and anxiety. All culminating in a whodunnit with the whodunnit turning out to be someone you least expect.

I found this to be a carefully crafted tale leading up to whodunnit. I was beginning to think it was this person, then I switched my thinking to maybe it’s this other person (which would have been just as fitting and unexpected), and yet I was wrong on both counts. If you’re a fan of Ms. White’s writing, I am quite certain you will find yourself spending a day with these characters, each of them bringing what is needed to this family vacation.

The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent Book Review

 

Meadow is the kind of college student you don’t notice; she is just that average. Really not memorable at all. And she likes it that way. She finds herself in need of a new place to live and stumbles across an ad for a room to rent. She goes and meets Lauren and hopes she hides her social anxiety well enough to be likable, to be a perfect roommate. For whatever reason, Lauren decides she lives Meadow and lets her move in immediately, like right now immediately. Meadow cannot believe her luck! Through Lauren, Meadow meets Tessa. She meets Thayer (Lauren’s boyfriend). She meets Eli (Tessa’s love interest). She starts to discover that she could possibly have friends … this is, of course, due to Lauren’s involvement in giving her some of her “toss-away” clothes, a new hairstyle, makeup, introducing her to people she wouldn’t normally meet or associate with on her own. Meadow thinks her life is turning around for the better, until she discovers something that Lauren is doing that really sets her on edge. Enter Meadow’s job as a cleaning company which puts her smack dab in the middle of cleaning one of her professor’s homes and becoming a friend to his wife, Elisabeth. Little does she know how things will transpire after she finds out Lauren’s dirty little secret, the tragic accident that happens while she is trying to figure out how to stop Lauren, and who the guilty party really is.

Ms. Kent is fast becoming one of my go-to authors to read. For me, her stories pretty much “hit the mark” in what I look for in a “thriller.” Messed-up relationships, love gone wrong, a guilty party you don’t expect, forgiveness in a family. She combines them all. I highly recommend you give her books a try if you haven’t. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I am definitely looking forward to Ms. Kent’s next book. I hope you are, too!

The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White

 

I received an advanced gifted copy and am providing a review.  Publishing March 2022. Not my picture.

This was an intense read created around a true crime that happened in Canada. This story captures quite a few underlying stories in relation to the main story … that of a brutally horrid crime that occurred in Glenn Dennig.

Lily, Tom, Phoebe, Matthew Bradley. Seemingly the perfect family living in an eggplant-colored house with green trim.

Arwen, Joe Harper. The new neighbors who moved in down the street from the Bradleys and right across the lane from the Cody family.

Hannah, Simon, Fiona, Jacob Cody. The house where the annual neighborhood barbecue takes place. This year, though, there was an argument of extreme proportions.

Rue, Eb Duval. The detective on the case and her son, Eb.

The intertwining of lives and lies are found within the pages of this tale. Lily and Tom have the biggest secret past lives of all of these characters. Phoebe, their daughter, is a bit of a rebellious teen and falls for Joe, the new neighbor. Phoebe is 12 and Joe is 16. This brings all sorts of memories up for Lily, Phoebe’s mom. Matthew, the Bradleys’ son, is a future photographer, stealthily sneaking up and taking photos … sometimes in places he shouldn’t be, capturing images he shouldn’t capture. Matthew is an integral part of this tale.

Arwen and Joe, a mother and son, always moving. Arwen is the one who was working on a “secret” project to give her and Joe their “big break.” She is the one who ties this story together as it is told in a “then” and “now” voice, amidst the newspaper reports of the crime that happened many, many years ago.

Hannah and Simon … Hannah has her suspicions about Simon having affairs. Simon has a man shed that Hannah has been in, but Simon doesn’t know that. Fiona and Jacob are their children and have minimal parts in this tale.

Rue and Eb have their own story intermixed in this tale, Rue has a troubled marriage, and she suspects her son did something he shouldn’t have.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. White. I found this to be quite an intense read, the brutality of what happened back in 2006 is indescribable and I suspect has been somewhat toned down for this story. It is not for the faint of heart. The question still remains to this day – what really happened in that room? Only two people know and neither one of them are talking.

No One Can Hear You Scream by A.B. Whelan Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. Not my picture.

Jennifer Parker, successful lifestyle Instagrammer, is the main character throughout this tale. Tyler is her boyfriend, after having divorced her husband, Connor. Tyler also has an extremely close relationship with his mother, some may think too close. The kids, Jayden, Emily, and Noah. Tyler had the brilliant idea to take “his” family on a vacation … in a yurt of all things! While Jennifer was not overly keen on the idea, she decided to go, if only to prove to Tyler that he was important, that he was the man in her life, not Connor. Little did the family know what was in store for them. This is not a tale for the weak-in-the-stomach sort of reader.

This book certainly has some “creep” factor. While I knew this was a book that was based around an Instagram influencer, I really did not know what to expect. It also may serve as a warning to be careful how much personal information you post on social media. The significance of the animal sanctuary and what happens there is personal to Ms. Whelan and I thank her for including such realism in her story.

Trigger warnings: Animal cruelty; stalking.