Book Review: They Never Learn by Layne Fargo

Title: They Never Learn

Author: Layne Fargo

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 378

Publisher: Scout Press

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"Scarlett Clark is an exceptional English professor. But she's even better at getting away with murder.

Every year, she searches for the worst man at Gorman University and plots his well-deserved demise. Thanks to her meticulous planning, she's avoided drawing attention to herself- but as she's preparing for her biggest kill yet, the school starts probing into the growing body count on campus. Determined to keep her enemies close, Scarlett insinuates herself into the investigation and charms the woman in charge, Dr. Mina Pierce. Everything's going according to her master plan- until she loses control with her latest victim, putting her secret life at risk of exposure.

Meanwhile, Gorman student Carly Schiller is just trying to survive her freshman year. Finally free of her emotionally abusive father, all Carly wants is to focus on her studies and fade into the background. Her new roommate has other ideas. Allison Hadley is cool and confident- everything Carly wishes she could be- and the two girls quickly form an intense friendship. So when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party. Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay... and turning her fantasies about revenge into a reality."

My Rating: 4.75/5

I really enjoyed this book. It gave Dexter vibes but as a woman vigilante, I was into it. I liked the concept. The writing was unsettling and the audiobook was well narrated. The characters were dynamic, and the subject matter that surrounds rape culture was unfortunately too familiar but when written out in this way it's enough to make you flinch back with disgust at what people are willing to brush under the rug. What didn't line up for me in some senses was logic. The end felt a bit rushed for me but overall I appreciated the story.  I hope to read more from the author and I would strongly recommend it.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Ritual by Shantel Tessier

Title: The Ritual 

Author: Shantel Tessier

Series/Standalone: The L.O.R.D.S Series (Book #1)

Genre: Dark Romance, New Adult, Fiction

Pages: 628

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2021

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

First Line: "A Lord takes his oath seriously."

"THE CHOSEN ONE

I vow. You vow. We vow.

Barrington University is home of the Lords, a secret society that requires their blood in payment. They are above all- the most powerful men in the world. They devote their lives to violence in exchange for power. And during their senior year, they are offered a chosen one.

People think growing up with money is freeing, but I promise you, it's not. My entire life has been planned out for me. I never got the chance to do what I wanted until Ryat Alexander Archer came along and gave me an option for a better life. He offered me what no one else ever had- freedom.

I chose to be his. He made me believe that anyway, but it was just another lie. A way that the Lords manipulate you into doing what they want.

After being sucked into the dark, twisted world of the Lords, I embraced my new role and allowed Ryat to parade me around like the trophy I was to him. But like all things, what started out as a game soon became a fight for survival. And the only way out was death."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book has trigger warnings a mile long so please before you read any dark romance find a trigger warning list and make sure that the content is something you feel safe to consume. That being said this book was really fun for a dark romance, the plot went so many different directions, the spicey scenes were insane, and the world was fascinating. Was it a literary classic, probably not. Would I read it again? Absolutely. I will be continuing on with the series. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda

Title: The Girl from Widow Hills

Author: Megan Miranda

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 325

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"Everyone knows the story of 'the girl from Widow Hills.'

Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a terrifying rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up search parties and held vigils, praying for her safe return. Against all odds, she was found, alive, clinging to a storm drain. The girl from Widow Hills was a living miracle. Arden's mother wrote a book. Fame followed. Fans and fan letters, creeps and stalkers. And every year, the anniversary. It all became too much. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye. 

Now a young woman living hundreds of miles away, Arden goes by Olivia. She's managed to stay off the radar for the last few years. But with the twentieth anniversary of her rescue approaching, the media will inevitably renew its interest in Arden. Where is she now? Soon Olivia feels like she's being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even walking outside her home. Until late one night she jolts awake in her yard. At her feet is the corpse of a man she knows- from her previous life, as Arden Maynor.

And now, the girl from Widow Hills is about to become the center of the story, once again, in the propulsive page-turner from suspense master Megan Miranda."

My Rating: 4/5

This had such an excellent atmosphere and that's what I'm finding as I read more and more of Megan Miranda's work. Her atmosphere is fantastic, the feelings of being spooked, unsure and frightened live on throughout the story. I would definitely recommend it for that reason. The characters were fine. The ending was excellent. I would strongly recommend this one out of the other books by the author I've read. Fun, exciting and the audiobook gave me spooky fall vibes. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Something is Killing the Children Volume 6

Title: Something is Killing the Children Volume 6

Author: James Tynion IV

Illustrator: Werther Dell'Edera

Series/Standalone: Something is Killing the Children Series (Vol. 6)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror, Adult Fiction

Pages: 144

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Year Published:  2023

Format: Paperback Copy (Library Copy)

"With the last person in her corner gone and a ruthless agent from the Order of St. George closing in, Erica Slaughter finds herself alone and without a prayer. Can she take on this horrific new monster plaguing the small town of Tribulation, New Mexico by herself, or is this the end of her story? Erica is faced with a choice to reach out to an unexpected source for help, or find herself dealing with both a monster and her human enemies alone... Erica Slaughter faces her deadliest challenge yet in the next volume of the Eisner-winning and Harvey Award-nominated series from GLAAD Award-winning author James Tynion IV...."

My Rating: 3/5

This volume was fine for me, but I think because I can no longer binge the series, I'm starting to lose hold of the plot. I would be interested in reading it all once it's completed but for now, I will be taking a break from the series. The ideas are excellent, the art style is fascinating and the characters are dynamic. Lots to like, just not my favourite.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Family Remains

Author: Lisa Jewell

Series/Standalone: The Family Upstairs Duology (Book #2)

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 452

Publisher: Atria

Year Published: 2022 

Format: Audiobook

"Early one morning on the shore of the Thames, DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene of a gruesome discovery. When Owusu sends the evidence for examination, she learns the bones are connected to a cold case that left three people dead on the kitchen floor in a Chelsea mansion thirty years ago.

Rachel Rimmer has also received a shock- new that her husband, Michael, has been found dead in the cellar of his house in France. All signs point to an intruder, and the French police need her to come urgently to answer questions about Michael and his past that she very much doesn't want to answer.

After fleeing London thirty years ago in the wake of a horrific tragedy, Lucy Lamb is finally coming home. While she settles in with her children and is just about to purchase their first-ever house, her brother takes off to find the boy from their shared past whose memory haunts their present. 

As they all race to discover answers to these convoluted mysteries, they will come to find that they're connected in ways they could have never imagined."

My Rating: 2.5/5

This was fine, it was enjoyable. It was fast-paced. Was it necessary? I'm not sure about that. I think that the first book could have been a standalone and I wouldn't have been mad about that. I will read more from the author. It is very much a fun traditional thriller. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

Title: Stay Awake

Author: Megan Goldin

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller

Pages: 352

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she's dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers- a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it's missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife. That's when she sees that her hands are covered in black pen, scribbled messages like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE.

Two years ago,  Liv was living with her best friend, dating a new man, and thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she's lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she's horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim's blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, the same message that's inked on her hands. What did she do last night?? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember committing as she tries to piece together the fragments of her life. But there's someone who does know exactly what she did, and they'll be anything to make her forget- permanently."

My Rating: 1.5/5

I had previously read a book by the author and really enjoyed it. So picking up this I thought I would also enjoy it, but it read like a basic cop show. While I was curious where it was going, i was hoping for a wild twist, but it went in a way where I shrugged and just said it made sense. Finishing the book I don't know if I felt anything profound. It was fine, but I wanted so much more. I would give this author one more shot. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Title: The Good Girl

Author: Mary Kubica

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 352

Publisher: MIRA

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook 

"I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will. 

One night, Mia Dennett enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. At first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

When Colin decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota instead of delivering her to his employers, Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them. But no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter."

My Rating: 2/5

I have read quite a few books from Mary Kubica at this point and they either really hit for me or miss. This one was a miss. It wasn't what I wanted to read about, but I also think that this might be her debut. So it makes sense that her work has grown from here. I plan on continuing to read her work, mostly on audio. Her audiobooks are some of my favorite to listen to.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: You've Lost a Lot of Blood by Eric LaRocca

Title: You've Lost a Lot of Blood 

Author: Eric LaRocca

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Horror, Adult

Pages: 236

Publisher: Self-Published

Year Published: 2022

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"A disturbing new vision of terror from the author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke.

'Each precious thing I show you in this book is a holy relic from the night we both perished- the night when I combed you from my hair and watered the moon with your blood.

You've lost a lot of blood..."

My Rating: 2/5

This book was disturbing for me. The use of insects and the way the story is told is excellent. But I felt like either I was missing something or the book was. While it was uncomfortable, it wasn't exactly what I thought I was getting into. I would really enjoy reading more from the author and seeing if there is something I would enjoy more from this author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

Title: Such a Quiet Place

Author: Megan Miranda

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 337

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2021

Format: Audiobook

"Welcome to Hollow's Edge, where you can find secrets, scandal, and a suspected killer- all on one street.

Hollow's Edge use to be a quiet place. A private and idyllic neighborhood where neighbors dropped in on neighbors, celebrated graduation and holiday parties together, and looked out for one another. But then came the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. A year and a half later, Hollow's Edge is simmering. The residents are trapped, unable to sell their homes, confronted daily by the empty Truett house, and suffocated by their trial testimonies that implicated one of their own. Ruby Fletcher. And now, Ruby's back

With her conviction overturned, Ruby waltzes right back to Hollow's Edge, and into the home she shared with Harper Nash. Harper, five years older, has always treated Ruby like a wayward younger sister. But now she's terrified. What possible good could come of Ruby returning to the scene of the crime? And how can she possibly turn her away, when she knows Ruby has nowhere to go?

Within days, suspicion spreads like a virus across Hollow's Edge. It's increasingly clear that not everyone told the truth about the night of Truett's murders. And when Harper begins receiving threatening notes, she realizes she has to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the killer's next victim."

My Rating: 2/5

I was excited to read more by the author and I don't think that this was a great place to start again with this author. But it wasn't for me. It felt very anticlimactic throughout the book. The characters felt unreal to me and there were too many of them to keep track of. That being said the atmosphere was creepy and that worked for me. I do plan to read more from the author in the future. Any suggestions?

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Reckless by Elsie Silver

Title: Reckless

Author: Elsie Silver

Series/Standalone: Chestnut Springs Series (Book #4)

Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Pages: 466

Publisher: Self Published

Year Published: 2023

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

First Line:"'I can't fathom why you feel the need to go work at the dingy little hospital in the country.'"

"Theo Silva. Rowdy bull rider. Notorious ladies' man. Scorching hot trouble wrapped in a drool-worthy package.

And he's looking at me like I might be his next meal.

But I'm almost free of my toxic marriage and sworn off men entirely. So all I see when I look back is temptation served up with a heaping side of heartbreak.

The man is hard to trust-and even harder to resist.

Make that impossible. Because Theo is persistent. And no matter how hard I try to freeze him out, he melts my icy exteriors and pulls apart my defenses.

Over a drink in a small town bar, I blurt out my deepest, darkest secrets. Then I spend the singular hottest night of my life with him.

He worships my body. He makes me blush. I come alive beneath his hands.

Then I tell him to forget it ever happened. I want simple, and with him it all feels complicated.

It was supposed to be a one-time thing.

A secret.

But that little plus sign is going to make this secret impossible to keep."

My Rating: 5/5

This is my absolute favourite in the series so far. I always say that I love a grumpy-sunshine where the grump is the female lead. Because I am also the grump in my relationship. The trope that is in this book is written so well and really just added to the story overall (I mean how could it not). The way everything was written you couldn't help but root for this couple and the way they interact is incredible. Not to mention super sexy. I would highly recommend this series and I can't wait to read the final (?) book next month. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny