Teaser Tuesday – March 20, 2018

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker.

It is very easy to play along:

• Grab your current read and open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• Share the title & author, too, so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

Here are my “teasers” :

 

“When you grow up in foster care, as I did, you learn there is a certain type of person-a mean, nasty, vindictive subspecies of subhuman-who will use Social Services as a weapon, calling in anonymous tips out of spite against neighbors, coworkers, or anyone they truly hate. I didn’t think I had anyone like that in my life. At least not that I knew of.”

 

From the novel:

 

Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks

Published March 6, 2018 by Dutton Books

 

Goodreads Description:

 

Disaster, Melanie Barrick was once told, is always closer than you know.

It was a lesson she learned the hard way growing up in the constant upheaval of foster care. But now that she’s survived into adulthood–with a loving husband, a steady job, and a beautiful baby boy named Alex–she thought that turmoil was behind her.

Until one Monday evening when she goes to pick up Alex from childcare only to discover he’s been removed by Social Services. And no one will say why. It’s a terrifying scenario for any parent, but doubly so for Melanie, who knows the unintended horrors of what everyone coldly calls “the system.”

Her nightmare mushrooms when she arrives home to learn her house has been raided by sheriff’s deputies, who have found enough cocaine to send Melanie to prison for years. The evidence against her is overwhelming, and if Melanie can’t prove her innocence, she’ll lose Alex forever.

Meanwhile, assistant commonwealth’s attorney Amy Kaye–who has been assigned Melanie’s case–has her own troubles. She’s been dogged by a cold case no one wants her to pursue: a serial rapist who has avoided detection by wearing a mask and whispering his commands. Over the years, he has victimized dozens of women.

Including Melanie. Yet now her attacker might be the key to her salvation . . . or her undoing.

 

My Thoughts:

 

As soon as I read the description for this novel I wanted to read it. Although I’ve only read a couple of chapters, I’m already realizing it’s going to be almost impossible to put this book down. Extremely intense and emotional, I am gripped just waiting to see what will happen next.

Have you read this novel yet? Is it on your to be read list? I’d love to hear from you!

 

 

REVIEW – The Bad Daughter by Joy Fielding

Published February 27th 2018 by Ballantine Books

 

I started reading Joy Fielding’s novels in my early twenties and have never looked back. A new book is published almost every year, and I’m always excited for it to be released.

Robin Davis is a therapist in the midst of an appointment with a patient when she feels what she thinks is a panic attack coming on. It’s been over five years since she’s had one, but she knows exactly what brought it on…the recent phone calls from her sister, Melanie.

Robin’s relationship with her sister Melanie has been contentious since Robin was born. Once Melanie had to share their mother’s attention…she was vicious with Robin.  As they got older, Robin hoped it would get better, but if anything, it got worse. Robin hasn’t even returned Melanie’s calls yet…but she instinctively knows that it can’t be good. Melanie would never call with GOOD news.

Robin hasn’t communicated with her family for almost six years….

So why is Melanie calling now?

She finally calls her sister back. Melanie tells her she’d better sit down. She proceeds to tell Robin that their father, his wife, Tara, and his twelve-year-old step-daughter, Cassidy….have all been attacked in an apparent home invasion. All three are in critical condition.

“It’s Dad”

“Is he dead?”

“He’s in the hospital.”

“Did he have a heart attack?”

“No.”

“A car accident?”

“No.”

“Someone shot him?”

“Bingo.”

Robin knows she needs to go home to Red Bluff. She encourages her brother, Alec to come home too but he has his own reasons for wanting to stay away. With all of the secrets in the family and the rumors swirling around, Robin doesn’t know who she can trust.

Was this really a random robbery that went wrong or something much more sinister?

Wow! This family was the definition of dysfunctional. While I felt for Robin, I really wanted her to stand up for herself. I also had a hard time with the constant snippy remarks from Melanie to….well everyone, but especially Robin. It started to grate on me and it was hard to focus on the story at times.

Although this definitely isn’t my favorite Joy Fielding novel, it was a quick and easy read that I flew through in just a few sittings. I did figure out who was responsible for the crime early on and did have to suspend disbelief quite a bit. However, I really wanted to see how things played out and I am still happy that I read it. I’m hoping that I will enjoy this author’s next book as much as I have enjoyed her previous novels.

I’d like to thank, Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Music Monday : Imagine Dragons – Thunder

Music Monday is a meme that was created by Drew from The Tattooed Book Geek. You pick a song and/or video and share it on Monday.

The song and video I am sharing today is:

Thunder by – Imagine Dragons

I love this song. I play it constantly. I’m surprised I’m not sick of it yet. I think my daughter is though…

 

Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Just a young gun with a quick fuse
I was uptight, wanna let loose
I was dreaming of bigger things
And wanna leave my own life behind
Not a yes sir, not a follower
Fit the box, fit the mold
Have a seat in the foyer, take a number
I was lightning before the thunder

Thunder, thunder
Thunder, thun’, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder, thunder
Thunder, thun’, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder

Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder
Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder
Thunder, thunder
Thunder

Kids were laughing in my classes
While I was scheming for the masses
Who do you think you are?
Dreaming ’bout being a big star
They say you’re basic, they say you’re easy
You’re always riding in the back seat
Now I’m smiling from the stage while
You were clapping in the nose bleeds

Thunder
Thunder, thun’, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder, thunder
Thunder, thun’, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder

Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder
Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder
Thunder

Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder, thunder

Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder, thunder
Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder, thunder
Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder, thunder
Thunder, feel the thunder
Lightning and the thunder, thunder

Thunder, thunder, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder
Thunder, thunder, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder
Thunder, thunder, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder
Thunder, thunder, thunder
Thun-thun-thunder, thunder

 ….

Songwriters: Alexander Junior Grant / Benjamin Arthur McKee / Daniel Coulter Reynolds / Daniel James Platzman / Daniel Wayne Sermon / Jayson M. DeZuzio

Thunder lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Review: As Sick as Our Secrets by A.B. Whelan

Published February 14th, 2018 by InMotion Capitol

 

After really enjoying A.B. Whelan’s previous novel “14 Days to Die”, I was excited to have the opportunity to read “As Sick as Our Secrets”.

The book begins with our killer’s point of view twenty-seven years earlier. His girlfriend has hurt his feelings. HE’S the victim here. She is damaged and selfish…and he’s waiting for his apology.

Now – Thirty-six year old, Olivia Campbell has just woken up. She feels strange. She’s exhausted and it almost feels like she’s hung-over even though she hadn’t had anything to drink. Her husband, Richard just tells her she just needs more rest.

Olivia has done things in the past that she’s not proud of. But she figured her life was finally on the right path. Financially, her husband Richard provides her with a comfortable life. But he can be cruel. Olivia gets back at him by playing little tricks. She’ll delete a favorite song from his iPod, spit in his shoe, steal pages from important contracts, etc. He never suspects her “because I’m cunning and stealthy, like a ninja”. It’s while she’s playing one of these tricks that she stumbles across some things that Richard has hidden. At first, she is in shock by what she’s found but also feels guilty for snooping. She’s always had conflicting feelings about her husband.

“Richard is decent. He has a short temper, and something people nowadays may call ‘anger issues’, but he is a decent man. He dedicates his life to saving abused women and children.”

But she wants answers and she knows just how and where she needs to look…

Ashley Benson is a new psychologist, having just received her diploma. So far she has had only one client, Skyler O’Neill. But now Skyler is late for their second appointment, and Ashley’s gut is telling her that something bad has happened to her. Ashley’s friend, Olivia recently rescued her from a compromising position. Now she needs Olivia’s help again. She needs her help to find Skyler. Ashley also enlists the help of their mutual friend, Betty.

Police have been investigating “Fifty Shades Killer”. But now these three women are conducting their own investigation as they try to find Skyler O’Neill. Their search for Skyler uncovers so much more than they were expecting.

The story is told from multiple POV’s. Some suspension of disbelief is necessary and it did take a little time for me to get a handle on whose point of view I was reading. The story is fast-paced as the plot moves from past to present. We find out what turned our killer into a killer, and we also learn more about the pasts and secrets of our crime-fighting team of three. Overall this was an entertaining story about murder, betrayal, secrets, and revenge.

“As Sick As Our Secrets” was a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me gripped right up until a very satisfying ending.

 

I would like to thank A.B Whelan for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.