FANTASTIC BOOKS YOU’LL WANT TO READ, PRE-ORDER NOW

 

Don’t miss Shadow Garden by Alexandra Burt is a fantastic novel, ideal for people who love suspense and mystery. Told from three unique points of view and past/present timelines, it’s an engaging read that kept me guessing.

Take a look:

A wealthy woman suspects something is off about the luxurious complex she lives in . . . and she is right, in this riveting domestic-suspense novel from internationally bestselling author Alexandra Burt.

Donna Pryor lives in the lap of luxury. She spends her days in a beautifully appointed condo. Her every whim is catered to by a dedicated staff, and she does not want for anything.

Except for news of her adult daughter.

Or an ex-husband who takes her calls.

Donna knows something is wrong, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. As her life of privilege starts to feel more and more like a prison, the facade she has depended on begins to crumble. Somewhere in the ruins is the truth, and the closer Donna Pryor gets to it, the more likely it is to destroy her.

This is both haunting and chilling, a slow burn that makes you feel a little anxious while reading it. I liked the author’s writing style and will look  forward to more from her.

This comes out on July 21, you can pre-order now.

 

Never Ask Me by Jeff Abbott is a magnificent suspense novel that will have you staying up all night to read. There is a perfect neighborhood with a wonderful community and everything is amazing until the body of a woman is found in the park. This murder sends shock waves through the town and slowly things in this perfect place begin to unravel. Its easy to imagine this happening in real life in any of the small towns across America.

Synopsis:

In a quiet neighborhood in the wealthy Austin suburb of Lakehaven, the body of Danielle Roberts is discovered on a park bench. Danielle was a beloved member of the community, an adoption consultant who delivered the joy of parenthood to a number of local families. Her murder shocks Lakehaven.

Perhaps no other family is as crushed as the Pollitts, who lived two houses down from Danielle and thought of her almost like family. Her death becomes the catalyst for a maelstrom of suspicion and intrigue. You have been told a huge lie, an anonymous email charges the son, Grant. No one can learn the truth now, thinks the father, Kyle. Never ask me what I’d do to protect my family, resolves the wife, Iris. I’ll do whatever it takes to save him, vows the daughter, Julia, of Danielle’s grieving teenage son.

The Pollitts always thought they’d always be there for each other. When each begins to suspect the others of the unimaginable, the strength of their bonds will be tested in extraordinary new ways. The latest from New York Times bestselling author Jeff Abbott is his most suspenseful thriller yet: a riveting tale of the dangerous secrets one family has concealed — and what happens when the question each Pollitt hoped they’d never be asked threatens to expose their darkest truths.

There are twists and turns and darkness and secrets between the pages of this book. Fans of suspense and mysteries will want to be sure to grab this when it comes out next month.

This comes out on July 14, pre-order here!

 

The Switch by Beth O’Leary was exactly what I hoped it would be; fun and light writing with lovable characters and a satisfying ending. Hooked from the first page, I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I get some Sophie Kinsella vibes with Beth’s writing and I mean that as a compliment, writing heartwarming and humorous novels is much harder than you’d think! The Flatshare was a great book and if you haven’t read that yet, get it now.

Here’s the plot:

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen’s house for some long-overdue rest.

Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She’d like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen.

So they decide to try a two-month swap.

Eileen will live in London and look for love. She’ll take Leena’s flat, and learn all about casual dating, swiping right, and city neighbors. Meanwhile, Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire: Eileen’s sweet cottage and garden, her idyllic, quiet village, and her little neighborhood projects.

But stepping into one another’s shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected. Will swapping lives help Eileen and Leena find themselves…and maybe even find true love? In Beth O’Leary’s The Switch, it’s never too late to change everything….or to find yourself.

I need more books like The Switch, it takes your mind off your troubles and puts you right in the middle of a lovely town with quirky characters. The relationship between Leena and Eileen is so sweet.

This comes out on August 18, pre-order here.

 

I’ve been a Marian Keyes fan for many years! She has written a bunch of fantastic novels (you can’t go wrong with any of them) that I highly recommend. Her latest is titled Grown Ups and I can relate to the person on the cover of the book, can’t you?

I always want to read stories about dysfunctional families and this one offers just that. Plus Marian’s writing is just so good and she’s witty and funny and I love it. On the surface, this family has it all together, but there’s more to the Casey family than what you see.

Check it out:

They’re a glamorous family, the Caseys. Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together–birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they’re a happy family. Johnny’s wife, Jessie–who has the most money–insists on it.

Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . .

Still, everything manages to stay under control–that is, until Ed’s wife, Cara, gets a concussion and can’t keep her thoughts or opinions to herself. One careless remark at Johnny’s birthday party, with the entire family present, and Cara starts spilling all their secrets.

As everything unravels, each of the adults finds themselves wondering if it’s–finally–the time to grow up.

If you are seeking a big book (this isn’t short) about grudges and secrets and a clash of personalities, this is one that you won’t want to miss. Yes, there are lots of characters to keep track of but you can do it!

With Marian’s trademark style of wit, clever writing, and humor, this is a must-read summer novel.

This will be out on June 30, you can pre-order it by going here.

 

 

Historical fiction: it’s a genre I don’t immediately call to mind when I talk about my favorite books, yet I love nothing more than immersing myself in a world and place and time different from the present. Some of the best books I have ever read are historical fiction.

I was so excited to read The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull.

In the summer of 1926, when Thelma Morgan marries Viscount Duke Furness after a whirlwind romance, she’s immersed in a gilded world of extraordinary wealth and privilege. For Thelma, the daughter of an American diplomat, her new life as a member of the British aristocracy is like a fairy tale—even more so when her husband introduces her to Edward, Prince of Wales.

In a twist of fate, her marriage to Duke leads her to fall headlong into a love affair with Edward. But happiness is fleeting, and their love is threatened when Thelma’s sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, becomes embroiled in a scandal with far-reaching implications. As Thelma sails to New York to support Gloria, she leaves Edward in the hands of her trusted friend Wallis, never imagining the consequences that will follow.

Bryn Turnbull takes readers from the raucous glamour of the Paris Ritz and the French Riviera to the quiet, private corners of St. James’s Palace in this sweeping story of love, loyalty and betrayal.

I knew nothing about Thelma or the Vanderbilts and I loved reading about the glamour and details of her life. It’s a great read, not heavy or too intense, just the right amount of romance and history blended together to form an enjoyable novel based on real-life events.

This book will be published on July 21, you can order it here.

 

 

The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi was an extremely well-written story. I was so taken with how the author phrased things and wrote sentences that I had to reread paragraphs because I was in awe of the writing.

The book features several chapters of brief mysteries, woven together with the premise that a young editor named Julia, is visiting the author of the stories, hoping to re-publish them. Each story is a murder mystery written with mathematic precision.

Julia has flown out to sit down with Grant, hoping to get to know him better and read each of  the collection, known as The White Stories. Together on a remote Mediterranean island, they go over each story where Julia notices several inconsistencies and wonders about Grant…

There are rules for murder mysteries. There must be a victim. A suspect. A detective. The rest is just shuffling the sequence. Expanding the permutations. Grant McAllister, a professor of mathematics, once sat down and worked them all out – calculating the different orders and possibilities of a mystery into seven perfect detective stories he quietly published. But that was thirty years ago. Now Grant lives in seclusion on a remote Mediterranean island, counting the rest of his days.

Until Julia Hart, a sharp, ambitious editor knocks on his door. Julia wishes to republish his book, and together they must revisit those old stories: an author hiding from his past, and an editor, keen to understand it.

But there are things in the stories that don’t add up. Inconsistencies left by Grant that a sharp-eyed editor begins to suspect are more than mistakes. They may be clues, and Julia finds herself with a mystery of her own to solve.

Typically, I’m not a fan of short stories and prefer a longer, single story, but I was interested in the relationship between Julia and Grant plus each story is so well written that I enjoyed them all.

The last part of the book is where we find out all the secrets. I wish these secrets and reveals were written over the course of the book instead of towards the end. I won’t tell you what happens because I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I really liked the twists and turns!

Pre-order this book now, it comes out on August 4!

 

 

Monstrous Souls by Rebecca Kelly should come with a warning. First, once you start this book, you won’t be able to stop reading. And second, after you finish you will have a book hangover. This novel is dark, gritty, memorable, nerve-wracking. You might want to cry. You will be nervous and anxious for the main character, Heidi.

Fifteen years ago, a brutal crime was committed and Heidi was left for dead. She remembers only bits and pieces of that awful day when her best friend was killed and her sister was abducted. Its what leads up to that day which holds the clues and secrets. Monstrous Souls switches between 2016 as Heidi starts remembering everything and 2001, as it happens.

Synopsis:

Over a decade ago, Heidi was the victim of a brutal attack that left her hospitalised, her younger sister missing, and her best friend dead. But Heidi doesn’t remember any of that. She’s lived her life since then with little memory of her friends and family and no recollection of the crime.

But lately, it’s all starting to come back.

As Heidi begins retracing the events that lead to the assault, she is forced to confront the pain and guilt she’s long kept buried. But Heidi isn’t the only one digging up the past, and the closer she gets to remembering the truth, the more danger she’s in.

When the truth is worse than fiction, is the past worth reliving?

I began this novel late last night and finished it first thing in the morning; I was hooked. It’s hard to believe that this brilliantly written, pitch-perfect thriller is a debut novel. I rarely give five stars on Goodreads, but this one is definitely a five-star read. The writing, pacing, story, characters, plot are all done as if written by a seasoned pro.

This is available on NetGalley if you are a reviewer or librarian. If not, this will be out on June 25 and is available for pre-order now. Only 99 cents for the kindle version, how can you not get it?

 

 

I was so anxious, eager, and excited to read The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister! I loved her fantastic novel, Woman 99 and cannot recommend it enough if you haven’t read it yet. In her newest book, Greer takes us on an all-female expedition through the Arctic, led by a brave young woman named Virginia.

This book switches between the trial of Virginia, being charged with the death of one of the women on the expedition, and the actual expedition itself as the women endure hardships and challenges while on their mission of trying to find a group of men who are missing.

Here’s the synopsis:

A dozen women join a secret 1850s Arctic expedition—and a sensational murder trial unfolds when some of them don’t come back.

Eccentric Lady Jane Franklin makes an outlandish offer to adventurer Virginia Reeve: take a dozen women, trek into the Arctic, and find her husband’s lost expedition. Four parties have failed to find him, and Lady Franklin wants a radical new approach: put the women in charge.

A year later, Virginia stands trial for murder. Survivors of the expedition willing to publicly support her sit in the front row. There are only five. What happened out there on the ice?

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of one of the world’s most inhospitable locations, USA Today bestselling author Greer Macallister uses the true story of Lady Jane Franklin’s tireless attempts to find her husband’s lost expedition as a jumping-off point to spin a tale of bravely, intrigue, perseverance and hope.

I love the author’s writing. Her descriptions make the harsh arctic come to life and I know I would not have lasted a week out there in the elements! This was an interesting read, I knew nothing of the real-life explorations of the Arctic. The Arctic Fury places the reader front and center of the trial and my favorite parts were towards the end of the book when we, the reader, begin to lose all hope.

The research it must have taken the author to write this and learn all about exploring this part of the world must have taken forever! There is plenty to keep the reader glued to the pages until the very last chapter. If you are a fan of historical fiction, I think you will enjoy this book which comes out on December 1.

You can pre-order the book here, and of course, add it to your Goodreads list.