Book Review - The Safe Place by Anna Downes

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In a span of one day, Emily Proudman's life is a terrible mess. She lost her acting agent, her apartment and her job. Scott Denny is a successful CEO and he has a problem that he can't fix on his own. His business prowess or his vast wealth isn't able to help him until he meets Emily.

Scott offers a job as his housekeeper and a companion for his wife, Nina on his remote, paradise French estate. Emily is immediately taken with Nina and her young daughter, Aurelia.  Emily finally feels like her life is where she wants it. However, soon Emily realizes Scott and Nina are keeping a deadly secret and if she doesn't play along things won't end well for her.

Being stuck in my apartment for what seems like days on end, I couldn't wait to dive into this thriller. The writing style was easy to read and fluid. However, as I kept reading I felt like the plot was predictable and it took the writer forever to get there. I found myself losing patience once, the predictable secret was exposed. I also didn't care for any of the characters and thought the whole situation was rather silly in the end. Perhaps at face value, the plot might sound promising but, once you delve deeper, it kinds of seems meaningless in some ways. The author did show how far someone would go to protect the people they love. I was expecting more from this book and disappointed it didn't deliver.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. 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 extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Lost History of Dreams by Kris Waldherr

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When famed poet Hugh de Bonne is discovered dead in his bath one day, his cousin Robert Highstead is tasked with helping Hugh with his last wishes. Robert is a post-mortem photographer and has to transport Hugh's remains for burial in a chapel where his wife's remains preside. The chapel, Ada's folly was built by Hugh sixteen years earlier as a dedication for his late wife and muse. However, since her death, the chapel has been locked and abandoned but, fans of de Bonne visit the site.

Ada's niece refuses to open the glass chapel for Robert unless he does something for her in return. She promises that she will allow Hugh's remains if Robert records Isabelle's story of Ada's and Hugh's love story over the course of five nights.  As Robert listens to Isabelle's story, he discovers secrets that closely align with ones he has been keeping secret. 

I love a good horror story but, this one didn't deliver. The beginning of the novel was very slow and it took a while before I became interested in the plot. I felt like there were no spooky elements but, only a few predictable surprises and a case of one too many mistaken identities. The novel fell short as a ghost story but, it had a few twists and turns.

**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 extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Wilder Girls by Rory Power

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It has been eighteen months since the Tox hit the Raxter School for Girls forcing the school to be put under quarantine by the CDC.  The Tox began very slowly as one by one of the teachers starting dying. Then it began infecting the students and mutilating their bodies causing deformities. The girls are cut off from the rest of the world and have to fend for themselves against nature and the Tox. They can't leave the island or the school's fence because it will break the quarantine order. While the neighboring woods prove to be wild and dangerous with the wild animals being affected with the Tox. The girls are waiting for the promised cure but, the world around them is starting to close in.

When Byatt goes missing, Hetty will stop at nothing to find her. She is willing to break quarantine and travel into the woods to find her beloved friend. What Hetty finds behind the fences leaves her to question everything she thought she knew. Will Hetty be able to put her fears and worries aside to save her friend?

The novel was an interesting read but, I felt that the writing took away from the novel. Sometimes, I felt I had to re-read sentences to make sure I was understanding the context. However, I love how strong and diverse each of the characters was. Personally, I thought the ending left a bit to desired but, I did enjoy the book.

 **Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. 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 extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**