REVIEW : Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

Never Have I Ever

Published July 30, 2019 by William Morrow

 

This was a FANTASTIC novel. One of my favorite reads this year.

Forty-two year old, Amy Whey has a great life. She has a wonderful family and a terrific best friend. She finally feels at home for the first time in her life.

Tuesday, May 28, 1991, was the night that Amy’s life, as well as many others, changed forever. After that night, Amy tried a variety of ways to stuff her feelings. Eventually, it was diving that saved her. Being underwater was the only place she could forget… if just for a little while. Then Amy met Davis and his daughter, Maddy. They became her family, eventually adding baby Oliver to the mix. Finding a new best friend, Charlotte only added to Amy’s happiness.

The last seven years have been amazing, but there are times she wonders if she should have told the people she loves about her past.

Amy’s life is about to become VERY complicated.

 “Is this where the book club meets?”

Book club is well underway when the doorbell rings. Amy opens the door to a pretty woman with beautiful dark hair. The woman’s name is Angelica Roux, Roux for short. She is a single mom with a teenage son and they are staying at the Airbnb next door. She thought she would come to book club to meet some new people.

Amy never thought that book club would be the place where her life would start to unravel.

Roux introduces herself and the other women immediately start trying to impress her. However, Charlotte, who is the leader of the group is far from impressed. Roux insults the book, sits in the host’s chair, and mixes drinks like she owns the place. She basically hijacks the evening.

Soon, Roux, has the women drinking shots and playing a game called, “Never have I ever”. The game starts out innocently enough, but then one of the women confesses something that hits very close to home. Suddenly it doesn’t seem like such a harmless game. Roux says that Amy would win this game hands-down. She seems to be indicating that she knows something about Amy’s past. Amy has had enough and tells Roux to get out. As Roux is leaving she tells Amy that they need to get together, that they have a LOT to talk about.

Amy has no intentions seeking Roux out, but she is worried. She tells herself that it’s impossible for Roux to know about her past. Truly impossible. But when Roux comes looking for her, Amy’s instincts are proven right. Roux wants something from her and if she doesn’t get it, she’s going to make Amy pay…

How will Amy protect the precious life she’s built?

I LOVED this book!

The story is told from Amy’s point of view. Most of it takes place in the present, but we do learn about Amy’s past and what happened that fateful night.

Filled with fascinating characters, an engaging plot, and twists that I NEVER saw coming. I thought the story was well-paced with perfect timing, and I loved how it all came together in the end.

Joshilyn Jackson is a tremendous storyteller, and I found this book so hard to put down! It held my attention completely.

A thrilling story about memory, betrayal, guilt, lies, love, friendship, and revenge.

I highly recommend this incredible domestic suspense novel!!

I’d like to thank William Morrow for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

 

Music Monday : Metallica

musicmonday

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.

I wanted to share a Metallica song today but I couldn’t decide which one. So I’m sharing three of my favorites 🙂

Have a great week everyone!

 

Metallica – One

 

 

 

Metallica – Whisky in the Jar

 

 

 

Metallica – The Unforgiven

 

 

Metallica – One
.
I can’t remember anything
Can’t tell if this is true or dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me
Now that the war is through with me
I’m waking up, I cannot see
That there is not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me
Back in the womb it’s much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But can’t look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I’ll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me
Now the world is gone, I’m just one
Oh God help me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, help me
Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see
Absolute horror
I cannot live
I cannot die
Trapped in myself
Body my holding cell
Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell.
.
Songwriters: HETFIELD JAMES ALAN / ULRICH LARS
.
.
Metallica-Whiskey in the Jar
.
As I was goin’ over
The Cork and Kerry Mountains
I saw Captain Farrell
And his money, he was countin’
I first produced my pistol
And then produced my rapier
I said, “Stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya”
I took all of his money
And it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money,
Yeah, and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she loved me,
No, never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman,
Yeah, for you know she tricked me easy
Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da
Whack for my daddy, oh
Whack for my daddy, oh
There’s whiskey in the jar, oh
Being drunk and weary
I went to Molly’s chamber
Takin’ Molly with me
But I never knew the danger
For about six or maybe seven,
Yeah, in walked Captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired my pistols
And I shot him with both barrels
Yeah, musha rain dum a doo, dum a da, ha, yeah
Whack for my daddy, oh
Whack for my daddy, oh
There’s whiskey in the jar, oh
Yeah, whiskey, yo, whiskey
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Now some men like a fishin’
But some men like the fowlin’
Some men like to hear,
To hear the cannonball roarin’
Me, I like sleepin’,
‘Specially in my Molly’s chamber
But here I am in prison,
Here I am with a ball and chain, yeah
Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da, heh, heh
Whack for my daddy, oh
Whack for my daddy, oh
There’s whiskey in the jar, oh, yeah
Whiskey in the jar, oh
Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da
Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da, hey
Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da
Musha rain dum a doo, dum a da, yeah
.
Songwriters: Traditional / Brian Michael Downey / Eric Bell / Philip Parris Lynott
Whiskey in the Jar lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
 

REVIEW – Don’t Tell Teacher by Suzy K. Quinn

Don’t Tell Teacher

Published March 21, 2019 by HQ

 

Appearances can be deceiving…

 

After a recent divorce, Lizzie Riley and her six-year-old son, Tom are trying to make a fresh start. One of the biggest changes is that Tom will now be attending an academy school called Steelfield Academy.

When Lizzie sees the school for the first time, she is surprised. It has a tall fence all the way around the property, and the windows have bars on them. It looks a bit like a prison. Then she sees there’s a hole cut in the fence…

Is someone trying to get in or out?

Lizzie can tell Tom is worried.

“What if Dad finds us”

When Lizzie meets the headmaster there is something about him that instantly sets her on edge. He tells her that the school has a long waiting list and that they were lucky to get Tom enrolled. She’s also told that the school forbids parents from entering the grounds or the school itself. All of this leaves a bad taste in Lizzie’s mouth. However, she tries to make the best of it and tells Tom it will be great.

But it’s not long before Lizzie feels like something strange is going on. Tom is often exhausted and moody when he gets home from school. Lizzie asks him what’s wrong, but he won’t talk about it, and if she pushes too hard, he just says he doesn’t remember. Lizzie tries to talk to someone at the school but again she’s told just how lucky Tom is to be a part of such a great school.

When Tom comes home with strange marks on his arm, Lizzie has had enough. She is determined to find out exactly what is happening at this school.

What exactly is going on at Steelfield Academy?

Don’t Tell the Teacher” was a dark and clever story with intriguing and devious characters. I did think that the story slowed down a bit in the middle, but found things picked up again rather quickly. Some suspension of disbelief was necessary, but I liked that I couldn’t figure out what was going on, and in the end was an excellent twist that I did not see coming.

Overall, this was a chilling and enjoyable psychological thriller!

REVIEW : The Escape Room by Megan Goldin

The Escape Room

Published July 30, 2019 by St. Martin’s Press

 

I’ve always been curious about “Escape Rooms”. This sounded like such an interesting read and I couldn’t wait to get started!

The book opens as a security guard calls 911 after hearing a scream and what sounded like gunshots in what should be an empty building. The police arrive and everything is silent. Then they hear the sound of an elevator descending…

The police stand with their guns drawn as they wait for the elevator doors to open…

Then all hell breaks loose.

Thirty-four hours earlier:

Four top employees of Stanhope and Sons have been called to attend a last-minute meeting. These four employees have spent more time with each other than anyone else in the last several years. In some cases, they know each other better than they know themselves.

Sylvie is a previous model whose career ended after a horrific accident. She’s supposed to be leaving for Paris that evening.

Sam was supposed to be leaving for a trip to Antigua with his family. His wife, Kim, is furious that he has to attend this last-minute meeting.

Jules has been struggling lately and is trying to disguise the alcohol on his breath.

Vincent is their boss and was the last to arrive.  Though he sent the email about this meeting, in many ways he’s just as in the dark as they are.

Sylvie, Sam, and Jules ask Vincent why they are there and he tells them they will be doing an Escape Room challenge. The group is angry that they have to do this “team-building” activity. However, they know that the firm has been talking about layoffs lately. It is in their best interest to play along.

They step into the elevator…

The doors immediately shut behind them and the lights turn off, plunging them into darkness. The small TV screen in the corner shows a message:

“WELCOME TO THE ESCAPE ROOM, YOUR GOAL IS SIMPLE. GET OUT ALIVE.”

Wow!

This was a gripping read with no shortage of drama and suspense. I finished it in no time!

The story was filled with intense situations and had many complex characters. We hear from Vincent, Sylvie, Jules, and Sam in The Elevator chapters. The alternating chapters are from another character’s point of view, the “dead but not forgotten”, Sara Hall.

“The Escape Room” was an engrossing read about money, greed, power, and betrayal.

I look forward to reading more from Megan Goldin!

 

I’d like to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.