Book Review - Run Away by Harlan Coben

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Simon had a perfect life. He was a beloved father, husband, and a successful businessman. All of that changes when his daughter, Paige becomes addicted to drugs and is dating an abusive man. She made it clear that she wants to be left alone. However, Simon is having a hard time letting Paige go.

He searches everywhere for Paige during his spare time. One day, by chance, Simon spots her in Central Park playing the guitar for the money.  As Simon approaches his daughter, he is confronted by her abusive boyfriend which leads to a physical altercation. A few days later, Simon and Paige is a suspect in her boyfriend's murder.

A retired FBI agent turned private investigator, a hit man, and private financial advisor whose world will collide together when they have nothing in common. The novel had a few twists I didn't see coming. However, I am not sure how believable some parts of the story is. For example, the mother keeping her daughter's location a secret from her husband.  Overall, it was an interesting read and I will be interested in reading more works from the author.

*Disclosure - This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

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In 1952, Darby McLaughlin decides to leave her home to enroll in secretary school in New York City. She arrives at the Barbizon Hotel and realizes that she is surrounded by beautiful women. While she considers herself to be very plain looking.  Darby becomes homesick and falls prey into her roommates' cruelty. When she befriends Esme, a maid at the hotel, she is exposed to a different side of New York City. Esme takes Darby to downtown jazz clubs, where the music causes Darby to feel things she keeps bottled up.

Half a century later, the Barbizon hotel is converted into condos. However, the infamous incident involving a hotel maid falling to her death still taints the hotel's history. When Darby crosses path with journalist Rose Lewin, Rose becomes obsessed with finding out about Darby's past. Rose welcomes this distraction as her personal life starts to fall apart. As Rose digs deeper into Darby's past her true motives become muddle with her search of the truth. 

I have read "The Address" and enjoyed it. The book was well written and the premise was interesting. However, I thought the plot was a bit dull and found that some of the characters to be very basic.  As a person who went through a recent heartbreak, I couldn't picture myself simply falling for a new person in less than a week. It took time to mourn and even understand what exactly went wrong. While this book was disappointing, I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

 **Disclosure - This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Last Romantics by by Tara Conklin

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Fiona Skinner is a renowned poet who was asked about the inspiration behind her iconic work, The Love Poem.  Fiona relays a story about her family and the betrayal that slowly rips apart her family.

It all began when her father passed away unexpectedly. Her mother unable to cope with the loss and the demands of a young family locks herself in her room. Her children began calling this time "The Pause". They had to learn how to take care of themselves and became loyal to each other. Two decades later,  the siblings have to rely on each other once again. Will they be able to rely on each other and move on from the past?

I thought that this book was an easy read. However, while reading this book, I was reminded of my required school reading of books by Hemingway and Faulkner. It isn't because that this book or Faulkner or Hemingway are bad books but, they felt a bit bland and boring, especially, when you are required to read them, instead of reading them for pleasure. The characters were interesting but, I wasn't really invested in them. Overall, I felt like it might be an enjoyable book for some but, it wasn't my cup of tea.

**Disclosure - This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.** 

Book Review - The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas + Giveaway

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Sunnybrook used to be home to a top-notch cheerleading squad. Now there are no more cheerleaders.

On a dark rainy night, two girls were involved in a car accident leaving both of them dead. The scene was so gruesome that the paramedic team had trouble identifying which girl was which. Shortly afterward two more girls were murdered by their next-door neighbors. However, the police shot him, so why he murdered the girls will go with him to his grave. The last cheerleader, Monica's sister, committed suicide.  After the death of the five cheerleaders, the squad was disbanded.

On the five year anniversary of the girls' death,  Sunnybrook High faculty and students want to create a memorial for the cheerleaders.  Monica just wants to forget but, once she discovers her sister's cell phone, she is dragged back into the drama that happened five years ago. She meets a strange new friend and discovers sometimes, the past won't stay buried. Who is behind the murders? Are the deaths connected?

I found this to be an addictive and thrilling read. I couldn't put this book down. It was full of suspense and drama. My only qualm about this book is that in the beginning, there were a bit too many characters to keep track off. Overall, it was a thrilling and exciting novel to read.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

About the Book:

Title: THE CHEERLEADERS

Author: Kara Thomas

Pub. Date: July 31, 2018

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, iBooks, TBD

There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.

First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they lost.

That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it’s not that easy. She just wants to forget. Only, Monica’s world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad’s desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school. . . . Whatever happened five years ago isn’t over. Some people in town know more than they’re saying. And somehow Monica is at the center of it all.

There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn’t mean anyone else is safe. 

About Kara:

Kara Thomas is a true crime addict and the author of THE DARKEST CORNERS, LITTLE MONSTERS, and THE CHEERLEADERS, all published by Delacorte Press. You can find her on Twitter (@karatwrites), Instagram (@kara__thomas), or at http://www.kara-thomas.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE CHEERLEADERS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Schedule:

Week Three:

Week Four:

8/13/2018- The Young Folks- Review

8/14/2018- BookHounds YA- Interview

8/15/2018- Simply Daniel Radcliffe- Review

8/16/2018- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review

8/17/2018- Two points of interest- Review

Book Review - A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

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Adisa Johnson, a young African American woman is living her dream. She is an aspiring lawyer in a prestigious firm in downtown Atlanta with a promising career.  However, a simple makes changes the trajectory of her career and causes her to lose the job she loves. Around the same time, her dearly beloved aunt became ill and Adisa to move to be closer to her aunt and looks for a new job. A few days earlier a Caucasian police offer had shot an unarmed African American team who is fighting for his life in the hospital. With racial tensions high, Adisa wants to be bought on as a special prosecutor on the case. Although, when she speaks with a fellow mentor and victim's grandmother, she is left with conflicting feelings on the case. Which side will Adisa choose? What happened during that faithful of the shooting?

I like that the novel took on racial topics that are very prevalent this day. However, I felt the story lacked depth and suspense. The story seemed to drag on and on, filled with details that just cloud the story. Sadly, I also couldn't find myself liking the any of the characters. As a WOC, I loved seeing a fellow WOC in charge, smart and engaging. But I felt like Adisa fell flat and act impulsively/emotional. For example, when she was let go of her job she didn't want to steal her former employer's clients. But when she asked her mentor for a job, she had no problem becoming a special prosecutor on the same case her mentor was defending on.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Arena (Arena #1) by Holly Jennings

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Kali Ling was chosen to be the first female captain in the RAGE tournaments. She along with hundreds of modern day gamers who train like athletes fight in the virtual world. In game, they fight and kill each other but while the deaths are fake the pain is real. However, that changes when one of Kali's team member overdoses on HP and dies. Unable to cope with the pain; the virtual world and reality starts to blend for Kali. Her life comes crashing down when the new recruit and her continuously butt heads. 

When I first read the description of the novel, I had very high hopes for this novel. Sadly, I was left very disappointed. The supporting characters didn't seem fully developed unless they were Kali or Rooke. I also found Kali's personality to be very abrasive and arrogant -- hard to want her to succeed.  The writing felt flat and forced like the writer was trying to hard to look like a gamer herself. I don't recall anyone writing "pwned" in the recent years and I doubt with how far in the future this book takes place that they would even know what it means. It is like the author bashes the gamer lingo on the reader's head.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - His Guilt: The Amish of Hart County by Shelley Shepard Gray

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Two years ago, Mark Fisher was accused of a crime he didn't commit. He left the Amish community, in hopes to start over but he could never forget his home. Mark returns to Hart County when his mentor reaches out to him for help at his store. At the store, is where he meets the innocent Waneta or Neeta Cain. At first, Neeta is afraid of Mark but she decides the Amish way is to forgive people and decides to befriend Mark. As their friendship buds, Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who knows Mark isn't capable of hurting anyone despite his rough exteriors. When their friendship starts to bloom romantically, one of Neeta's close friends was attacked just when Mark begins to feel at home. Then another woman who knows both Neeta and himself is attacked, Mark is scared for Neeta's safety. Who is the culprit behind these crimes? Why are they targeting these women?

I have read a couple of the author's books and have enjoyed them. This one is no exception; I love how it has a darker and grittier side to Amish romances. The novel was suspenseful and kept me guessing but like many of her books, you are given clues to the culprit's identity. A thrilling read for anyone who likes Amish romance novels.

**Disclosure - I received an uncorrected copy of this book for review**

Book Review - Home at Last (Chicory Inn #5) by Deborah Raney

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Every sibling in the Whitman family has settled down with their soul mates, except for Link. He is stuck in a dead end job, lives in a small dump of apartment, and can't seem to find love. When, his sister's wedding day approaches, Link feels the loneliness sinking in.

Shayla Michaels has always felt the burden of life. Her mother's white family disowned her and her mother because of her African American father. While, her father's family did disapprove of her, they eventually embraced her.  After her mother's death, following her brother's incarceration, it left Shayla with a niece, Portia and her father bitter. Will Shayla and Link be able to put their differences aside and find love? Will they let the skin color dictate who they should fall in love with?

The novel was beautifully written and had engaging characters. I found myself hoping that Link and Shayla could put their differences aside and fall in love. I sometimes, find myself yelling, "Why did you do that, you fool --- Go after her!!".  I loved how the story featured characters of mixed races and felt that added another dimension to the story. A truly heart warming story and I can't wait to read other novels by the author.

**Disclosure -  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

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Jason Dessen was abducted by a masked man who asks if Jason is happy with his life. When Jason awakes, he is strapped down to a gurney surrounded by strangers who greet him as a friend. He wakes up in a world that isn't his own. His wife is not his wife and  their child has never been born.  He is no longer an mediocre physics professor who lives in a brownstone with his family but a celebrated genius who lives alone. This Jason has achieved scientific breakthroughs that are borderline impossible. What is this new world that Jason is in? Who is really the masked abductor? Can Jason trust anyone? Is it all a dream?

The novel had an interesting plot that left me on the edge of my chair until I hit the middle of the book and got tired of it. It failed to keep me interested nor did I crave to read the book. Usually, when I find a good book, I can't wait to read it and I keep thinking about how it would end. Sadly, it wasn't the case for this book.  And when I finally did finish the book, boy was the ending a disappointment.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - A History of Violence: Living and Dying in Central America by Óscar Martínez

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Central America is one of the deadliest places on Earth. Both El Salvador and Honduras have the highest homicide rate for the past decade with Guatemala following. Everyday more than 1,000 people are displaced from their home as they try to flee for their safety. Oscar Martinez goes to Central America and interviews people to get their first hand account of the brutality and crime in Central America. 

Oscar treks to small towns, jungle villages even Mexican brothels to get talk to the people and report about their living conditions. He also talks with those who work in drug trader, policemen, government officials,  hit men and gang informants.  The novel reads like one big article and at times confusing to keep traffic of all the people and names. Each chapter, Oscar focus on another topic or person but there are sometimes overlapping key elements. A good book to enlighten readers of the trouble brewing among our borders but it wasn't for me.

**Disclosure - I received an uncorrected eBook PDF file in exchange for my honest opinion**