Reading, Reviewing, Guest Authors, Giveaways and more.
I could not intentionally hurt someone without remorse.
A simple pleasure I enjoy is an ice cream sundae.
If I could change one thing about myself, it would be to stop smoking.
Respect and courtesy is hard to find these days.
When a woman conceals her sister’s death to claim their joint inheritance, her deception exposes a web of dangerous secrets in this addictive new thriller for fans of Megan Abbott, Gillian Flynn, and Paula Hawkins.
“Like most of the dead, I want to be remembered.”
Robin Voigt is dead. If Leslie had arrived at her sister’s cramped Las Vegas apartment just hours earlier, this would have been their first reunion in a decade. In the years since Robin ran away from home as a teenager, Leslie has stayed in New Mexico, taking care of their dying father even as she began building a family of her own. But when their father passed away, Leslie received a rude awakening: She and Robin would receive the inheritance he left them together—or not at all. Now her half of the money may be beyond her grasp. And unbeknownst to anyone, even her husband, Leslie needs it desperately.
When she meets a charismatic young woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Robin—and has every reason to leave her past behind—the two make a reckless bargain: Mary will impersonate Robin for a week in exchange for Robin’s half of the cash. But neither realizes how high the stakes will become when Mary takes a dead woman’s name. Even as Mary begins to suspect Leslie is hiding something, and Leslie realizes the stranger living in her house, babysitting her newborn son, and charming her husband has secrets of her own, Robin’s wild, troubled legacy threatens to eclipse them both.
An electric, twisted portrait of sisterhood and the ties that bind, The Better Liar is a stunning debut with a heart-stopping, twist-after-twist finale that will beg the question: How far would you go to get what’s yours?
Advance praise for The Better Liar
“I thought I’d just skim a page or two before putting The Better Liar on my ‘to-read’ shelf, but I couldn’t help becoming so drawn in that I had to keep going. Tanen Jones has written a compulsively page-turning story. She cleverly drip-feeds nuggets of information, each more surprising than the last, until the final shocking revelation.”—Claire Fuller, author of Bitter Orange and Swimming Lessons
Where do I begin?
Let’s first start with that this is a debut novel and I am hoping that there will be many more books by this author!!
Next, the title!! If you are like me and try to figure out the mystery, the reader has to start there. I knew I had to pay very close attention to the clues and the possible red herrings. Are you asking how I did? I’ll let you know!
Now the story!!! As the synopsis states, Leslie Voight Flores hasn’t seen her sister, Robin, in 10 years, when Robin ran away. However, she must try to track her down since their father’s will states that they will both receive $50,000. upon his death but that they have to receive it together. But is she too late? Now, what does she do? She needs that money!!!!
The narrative alternates between 3 characters (being vague as to not wanting to give away even a tidbit of this riveting story). For me, that meant the type of read that was “just one more chapter” to see which character will be “speaking” next and what that certain character might say.
This was definitely a page-turner, one that was very difficult to put down. Thrilling throughout and totally engrossing. However, I didn’t figure it out!!! Matter of fact, this debut novel left me with a “book hangover” going over the storyline in my mind as to what clues did I miss.
Ms. Jones is now on my radar!!! Kudos to her for such a dynamic introduction to her writing abilities!
Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗
Mailbox Monday
Click on title for synopsis via GoodReads.
Monday:
When I Was You by Minka Kent ~ Amazon Prime
Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman ~ Amazon Prime
Friday:
Perfect Little Children by Sophie Hannah ~ HC from Harper Collins
The Dilemma by B.A. Paris ~ eBook from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen ~ eBook from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley
When bank teller Rose Ryan accidentally uncovers a shocking discrepancy in bank finances, she goes to the police, who immediately call in the FBI. From that day forward, she meets at a coffee shop each morning with two FBI agents to report her observed embezzling activity and receive further instructions. Rose continues to collect evidence of the illegal activity at the bank, right under the noses of the criminals, but for her own safety and that of her family, she is warned to “tell no one, not even your husband.” Until now . . .
I recently read Ms. Ring’s latest book, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, and thoroughly enjoyed it. After connecting on Facebook, she told me about her previous books and a little bit about them. With that, she sent me a signed copy of KNIT 2, PURL 2, KILL 2, which I have yet to read and I purchased BREAKFAST WITH THE FBI because I was intrigued due to what she told me about how this book came to be via a real-life experience.
Rose Ryan embodies what an all-around good person should be. Her family came first, believed in honesty, knew the difference between right and wrong and was active in her community. After being a stay at home Mom until her 2 children were in High School, she went back to work as a bank teller. She loved her job and was held in high esteem by those that went to the bank. Her work ethics was extraordinary and didn’t go unnoticed when she received a promotion and was transferred to another branch.
The first day there, while closing up, she noticed an exorbitant amount of money was missing. She went straight to the President of the bank to inform him of the error. She had done right, at least she thought she did until she overheard the president on the phone telling someone that “Rose was on to them”.
Driving home she knew she could not let this matter go. After much thought, she pulled into the Police Parking Lot and gave a statement. Thinking that an investigation would ensue, she felt that she had done her job. However, due to the amount of money, the police told her that the FBI would need to be brought into it. And from there, her life turned upside down.
She was now an informant for the FBI. She wasn’t allowed to tell her husband, children, no one!!! She was followed, as were her family. Things got worse when she realized that the new Branch Manager carried a gun and was part of the embezzlement circle of employees.
I could feel Rose’s tension, worry and anxiety, not only while she was at work but having to lie to her family to keep them safe. And throughout the read, I kept asking myself what would I have done. The storyline was fluid. There are some surprises as to the outcome of this story and the when and how Rose finally told her story.
This story did resonate with and trigger my own memories of a somewhat similar experience that occurred with my family when I was young and my parents were approached to help the state troopers to be part of a sting. It lasted for 8+ months where we were followed and not allowed to say anything to anyone!
Another great read Ms. Ring!!!!!!
Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗
My plans for the weekend include relaxing and reading.
You will never find an empty refrigerator in my home.
I hope I always treat others with kindness.
I hope I never disappoint my family in any way.
Mailbox Monday
Click on title for synopsis via GoodReads.
Monday:
Knit 2, Purl 2, Kill 2 by Erina Bridget RIng ~ Signed TPB from Author
What You Don’t Know by Merry Jones ~ Personal purchase and goodies from author (mug and tote bag)
The Other Widow by Susan Crawford ~ HC from Miss W Book Reviews via Novels N Latte Book Club Christmas Exchange
From the bestselling author of Wish Me Home comes a breathtaking novel about the secrets that families keep and one woman’s illuminating search for the truth.
Quinn Maguire has a stable life, a fiancé, and what she thinks is a clear vision for her future. All of that comes undone by her mother’s deathbed confession—the absentee father Quinn spent thirty years resenting is not her real father at all. With that one revealing whisper, Quinn embarks on a journey to Maui, her mother’s childhood home, a storied paradise that holds the truth about her mother’s past and all its secrets Quinn is determined to uncover.
But settling on the island has its complications, and with the fiancé she left behind questioning every choice she makes, Quinn’s quest for her truth is even more difficult than she expected. As time passes and she digs deeper into her family history and her own identity, one thing becomes clear: Maui is as beautiful as she’d always imagined, and its magic is helping uncover the woman that Quinn was always meant to be.
This is the first book that I read by this author, but I had seen good things being said about this book, that I wanted to see if the buzz was correct. Plus I haven’t been disappointed yet by an author via Lake Union Publishing.
It has always been Quinn Maguire and her mother as far back as she can remember especially after her father left them at an early age. No extended family members. As a child, she always wanted to search for her father to get the answers she needed. But that all changed one fateful day.
Living in Georgia and as she lay dying, Beth, Quinn’s mother asks a favor of her only child and that is to please spread her ashes in Hawaii. Hawaii? Why? She has never heard her Mom talk about Hawaii. The other thing that came as a blow, Beth tells Quinn that Wesley Maguire wasn’t her biological father.
Trying to get through the grief of losing her mother and now not knowing who her father is, she makes the decision that she needs to honor her mother’s wishes and do it alone, leaving her controlling fiancè Ethan behind. What transpires is once in Hawaii, is she finds out that she is part of a feud between two families that have gone on for years and who she really is. And now, it’s time to be true to herself.
I absolutely loved this story. The writing was fluid and engrossing. I felt as I could feel the Hawaiian breezes blowing and that I knew each and every one of the characters. At times, my heart broke for Quinn as I could feel the emotional toll that she was under and the questions that were heavy on her heart. I wanted so much for her to have a happy ending. Did she? Well…….you will need to read this compelling and poignant story to find out!, which I highly recommend.
Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗
