Book Review: Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan

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WHERE THE BLAME LIES

Author: Mia Sheridan
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Mystery| Dark | Romance
Released: September 13, 2019
Review Source: Purchased

Abducted.
Terrorized.
Imprisoned.

At nineteen-years-old, college student Josie Stratton was kidnapped by a madman and held shackled for ten months in an abandoned warehouse before she finally escaped her hellish prison.

Eight years later, when the body of a young woman is found chained in the basement of a vacant house, Cincinnati Police Detective Zach Copeland is instantly reminded of the crime committed against Josie Stratton. Zach was just a rookie on the perimeter of that case, but he’s never forgotten the traumatized woman with the haunted eyes.

As more information emerges, the crimes take on an even more sinister similarity. But Josie’s attacker died by suicide. Does the city have a copycat on its hands? A killer who picked up where the original perpetrator left off? Or are they facing something far more insidious?

Josie has spent the last eight years attempting to get her life back on track, but now there’s a very real chance she could be the unknown suspect’s next target. As Zach vows to keep her safe, and Josie finds herself responding to him in a way she hasn’t responded to any man in almost a decade, the investigation takes on an even more complex edge of danger.

As past and present collide, Josie and Zach are thrust toward a shocking and chilling truth. A revelation that threatens not only Josie’s life, but everything she’s been fighting so desperately to reclaim.

Woooooowwwww! I was unprepared for this one. First of all Mia Sheridan is one of my favorite authors. I’m obsessed with her writing. The emotion she evokes from you is next level. Having said all that, I wasn’t ready for Where the Blame Lies.

I went in blind only knowing from a friend that it was a little dark. I’ve read a lot of dark books and this one is definitelyyyyy on the dark side but please don’t let that deter you from reading it.

I love Josie. She is the exact type of person I would hope to be in her circumstances. A fighter, resilient, determined, I could go on. She’s been through some things, an understatement but you need to read it to see for yourself.

Zach is sooooo freaking amazing. He’s a gorgeous detective assigned to protect Josie and work on the ongoing case. He’s so supportive and caring and I just love him so much. I also am a huge fan of his partner Jimmy, such a sweet man.

I’m rating this book 5 stars because it was an incredible, psychotic, beautiful, shocking, CAN’T PUT IT DOWN, story and I highly recommend it. Even if you’re not a true crime lover I recommend it because it’s Mia effin Sheridan.  If you’ve never read her before, I’ll try not to judge you but GET ON IT, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Book Review: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

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The Witch of Willow Hall
Author: Hester Fox
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Gothic | Historical | Mystery
Released: October 2nd 2018
Review Source: Graydon House via Netgalley

For fans of The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman, A Secret of Witches by Louisa Morgan and The Haunting of Maddie Clare by Simone St.James comes an addictive historical debut about strange power, fierce love, family secrets, and how the past haunts us in ways that demand to be seen.

When a scandal sends the affluent Montroses fleeing from their home in Boston and into rural seclusion at the stately Willow Hall, daughter Lydia resents the move. Especially when it becomes obvious that Willow Hall hides dark secrets that no one in the Montrose family anticipated. And when tragedy strikes, the sinister presence lurking in the house and its surrounding woods starts encroaching on the Montrose’s lives. Summoning powers she barely understands, Lydia must engage the forces around her to keep her family safe, while protecting the blossoming love she has with her father’s handsome business partner, John—who has secrets of his own.

The Witch of Willow Hall is a gripping historical fiction with the elements of a classic Gothic novel including thrills, chills, magic and drama. It reminded me of mash-up between The Scarlet Letter and Jane Eyre with the magic of Harry Potter or The Raven Boys thrown in. I truly enjoyed this book.

The Witch of Willow Hall takes place in the 1800s, after the Salem witch trials. When scandal surrounds Lydia Montrose's family, they is forced to flee Boston, and while it's her sister's fault she feels as if she is branded too, like Hester Prynne tarnished those who associated with her in The Scarlet Letter. In the country she discovers a new part of herself, something she thought she left buried as a child, something that scares her. It was really Lydia and her willful obtuseness which frustrated me the most while reading. She would acknowledge her powers or something that happened then turn around and make excuses, pretend it never happened and act surprised when someone else doesn't ignore them as she does. I'm a big fan of character development and I felt that besides Lydia and her sister, John Barret is the only other character with any sort of development. All others seemed static and shallow in comparison.

I loved the mystique of Willow Hall and John Barrett (tall, dark, handsome and brooding...yes, please!) and the overall story was very engaging, but it also felt more like a book to the beginning of a series or duology and many things were left unanswered or open as the book was quickly ended after a long build-up. But there was a great romance in the story which reminded me of those found in the classics like Austen or Brontë novels. The Witch of Willow Hall is a quick and engaging read for anyone who like historical novels with a Gothic and magical twist that keeps you guessing.

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“Hester Fox's THE WITCH OF WILLOW HALL offers a fascinating location, a great plot with history and twists, and characters that live and breathe. I love the novel, and will be looking forward to all new works by this talented author!" --Heather Graham,New York Times bestselling author

"Beautifully written, skillfully plotted, and filled with quiet terror, readers will devour this absorbing, Gothic tale of romance and suspense. Perfect for fans of Simone St James and Kate Morton." -- Anna Lee Huber, the national bestselling author of the historical Lady Darby Mysteries

"Beautifully written, with an intriguing plot full of suspense and mystery, The Witch of Willow Hall will cast a spell over every reader." -- Lisa Hall, author of Tell Me No Lies and Between You and Me

"I was entranced by this intriguing and spellbinding novel with its messages of love and loyalty and being true to who you really are. I hope Hester Fox goes on to write many more such novels--I for one will be buying them." -- Kathleen McGurl, author ofThe Girl from Ballymor 

"With its sense of creeping menace and chilling undertones, this compelling story had me gripped from the first page. The vividly drawn characters cast their spell so convincingly, I couldn't stop reading until I discovered what happened to them. A wonderful debut novel.”--Linda Finlay, author of The Flower Seller

Book Review: Presidio by Randy Kennedy

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Presidio 
Author: Randy Kennedy
Read By: George Newbern
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Mystery | Suspense | Thrillers
Released: August 21st 2018
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Audio

Set in the 1970s in the vast and arid landscape of the Texas panhandle, this darkly comic and stunningly mature literary debut tells the story of a car thief and his brother who set out to recover some stolen money and inadvertently kidnap a Mennonite girl who has her own reasons for being on the run.

Troy Falconer returns home after years of working as a solitary car thief to help his younger brother, Harlan, search for his wife, who has run away with the little money he had. When they steal a station wagon for the journey, the brothers accidentally kidnap Martha Zacharias, a Mennonite girl asleep in the back of the car. Martha turns out to be a stubborn survivor who refuses to be sent home, so together these unlikely road companions attempt to escape across the Mexican border, pursued by the police and Martha’s vengeful father.

The story is told partly through Troy’s journal, in which he chronicles his encounters with con artists, down-and-outers, and roadside philosophers, people looking for fast money, human connection, or a home long since vanished. The journal details a breakdown that has left Troy unable to function in conventional society; he is reduced to haunting motels, stealing from men roughly his size, living with their possessions in order to have none of his own and all but disappearing into their identities.

With a page-turning plot about a kidnapped child, gorgeously written scenes that probe the soul of the American West, and an austere landscape as real as any character, Presidio packs a powerful punch of anomie, dark humor, pathos, and suspense.

Presidio is the story of a car thief named Troy who is returning home to help his brother Harlan track someone down. Turns out Harlan’s wife has run off with all of his money, and Troy feels an obligation to help out after years of being off on his own. I enjoyed getting to know Troy through his journal entries mixed into the book. It is a bit strange to remember that there was a time without surveillance everyone and someone could just hop from motel to motel, stealing cars and clothes and whatever else. The descriptions of the small towns in the Texas desert were so vivid and accurate I felt like I was back in one. 

I felt the story was very well written and moved right along, and I really enjoyed it as an audio book. The narrator, George Newbern, has just a hint of a Texas accent, which sounded perfect for the characters. There was enough of a difference in each character voice to tell them apart as well. I was a little sad when the story was over as I wanted it to just keep going.

Audiobook Review: Three Things About Elise by Joanna Cannon

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Three Things About Elise
Author: Joanna Cannon
Narrator: Paula Wilcox
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Mystery | Suspense
Released: August 7th 2018
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Audio

The bestselling author of the “remarkable…masterfully constructed, pitch-perfect” (Booklist, starred review) debut The Trouble with Goats and Sheep delivers a suspenseful and emotionally satisfying novel about a lifelong friendship, a devastating secret, and the small acts of kindness that bring people together.

There are three things you should know about Elsie. The first thing is that she’s my best friend. The second is that she always knows what to say to make me feel better. And the third thing…might take a bit more explaining.

Eighty-four-year-old Florence has fallen in her flat at Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly. As she waits to be rescued, she thinks about her friend Elsie and wonders if a terrible secret from their past is about to come to light. If the charming new resident is who he claims to be, why does he look exactly like a man who died sixty years ago?

From the acclaimed, bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, Three Things About Elsie is a story about forever friends on the twisting path of life. As we uncover their buried secrets, we learn how the fine threads of humanity connect us all.

Three Things About Elsie is a beautiful story about friendships and kindness. It follows Florence (Flo) Claybourne and her friends Elsie and General Jack, who are residents of Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly. Flo, Elsie, and Jack feel like a band of elderly misfits getting up to no good as they try to ‘open the drawers’ of Flo’s memories and figure out exactly what happened 60 years ago. The story is mostly told from Flo’s perspective, as she lies on the floor waiting for someone to find her after she’s fallen.

The story is full of wonderful little twists and turns as we piece together Flo’s past, and how it relates to the new resident at Cherry Hill. Some twists you might see coming, others come out of nowhere. But for me, the heart of the story is not in the mystery they’re trying to solve, but the kind hearts of each of the characters. The book is full of introspection and characters wondering what they’re leaving behind and how they’ll be remembered. The caretakers at Cherry Hill, like Miss Ambrose and Handy Simon, don’t think their lives have any meaning and they’re not leaving behind any kind of legacy. Flo often wonders who will look at her photo when she’s gone and miss her. We learn about the ‘long second’ and the choices that change other people’s lives. I loved finding out how so many of the lives in the story were connected, though they never knew it. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator did a wonderful job of keeping me engaged. My only criticism is that there was no delineation between chapters. As with reading a paper book, I like to finish a chapter (when possible) before closing the book for the moment.

Book Review: Hatter Madigan by Frank Beddor

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Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X.
Hatter Madigan #1

Author: Frank Beddor

and Adrienne Kress
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Mystery & Detective Fantasy
Released: April 19, 2016
Review Source: Automatic Publishing

An exciting new adventure featuring a teenaged Hatter Madigan, one of the most popular character from the New York Times best-selling The Looking Glass Wars trilogy by Frank Beddor!

Combat training! Secret society initiations! Self-serving rivals! Welcome to Wonderland’s prestigious Millinery Academy: where those born to protect the queendom train to become spies, assassins, and bodyguards. With all that to contend with, not to mention following in his popular older brother’s footsteps, just getting through Imagination Class seems impossible already.

And that’s before he starts seeing ghosts lurking in the corridors…

When students begin behaving strangely throughout the academy, Hatter and his fellow cadets must unlock the mysteries behind the ghosts, and the headmaster’s suspicious behavior, before the entire student body finds itself possessed!

Join Hatter and his fellow cadets on their first adventures in Wonderland. Let’s just hope it isn’t their last!

Entitlement runs rampant in the young blooded cadets of Wonderlandia. Everyone strives for being the best, to bring honor to their families and to secure a position as a Brim. Bullying is rampant too, students with different skills or who operate outside of the box thinking get picked on or worst, expelled. What will Hatter do when everyone around him becomes zombies? Not the flesh eating type, but the possessed type. Something is happening to his fellow students, someones plotting against the crown by trying to build an army... but how are they doing it? How does he stop it? Can he even stop it?

I wasn't so big on The Looking Glass Wars, but I did enjoy Hatter in that book. With Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X., it's all about Hatter Madigan and I loved it. It's the backstory one always craves for, such a well written character, it fleshes him out and we get to follow him through the Academy as a Cadet and to him becoming a Brim. Will he become a Spade, as he dreams, or a Heart like his brother? Read the book!

I am definitely interested in the next book, and eagerly look forward to it.

Book Review: Dead As a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

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Dead as a Doornail
Sookie Stackhouse #5 - True Blood

Author: Charlaine Harris
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Fantasy Mystery
Released: April 25th 2006
Review Source: Ace Books

Small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has had more than her share of experience with the supernatural—but now it’s really hitting close to home.

When Sookie sees her brother Jason’s eyes start to change, she knows he’s about to turn into a were-panther for the first time—a transformation he embraces more readily than most shapeshifters she knows. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population, and Jason’s new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who’s behind the attacks—unless the killer decides to find her first…

People around Bon Temps have been mysteriously (yet meticulously) been getting killed, humans think they are random killings, Sookie Stackhouse knows that someone is hunting shifters. Book five of the series focuses more on the Were’s and shifters but the Vamps still walk around after dark.

Sookie is trying real hard this time to keep out of things until Sam get’s shot, was he the target or was Sookie? While she is able to not sleep with anyone and make matters more confusing, everyone’s vying for her heart. That includes Bill and Eric (although Bill’s got no shot in hell now), Calvin Norris is still giving it a go, but with Alcide Herveaux it’s hard to focus on anyone shifter. Alcide has been poking around for sure, but he’s letting Were business get in the way of him and Sookie, in that he’s asking a whole lot of favors that will bite them in the ass if he can’t be honest with what he needs from her upfront.

The who did it part of the book, was predictable. However, this didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the story. I've got book six ready to go!

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Book Review: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

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Definitely Dead
Sookie Stackhouse #6 - True Blood

Author: Charlaine Harris
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Fantasy Mystery
Released: March 27th 2007
Review Source: Ace Books

Since Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has so few living relatives, she hates to lose one - even her cousin Hadley, undead consort of the vampire Queen of Louisiana.

Hadley's left everything she has to Sookie, but claiming that inheritance has a high risk factor. Some people don't want her looking too deeply into Hadley's past, or Hadley's possessions. And they're prepared to do anything in their power to stop her. Whoever it is, they're definitely dangerous - and Sookie's life is definitely on the line...

Sookie's finally gotten word of what happened to her Cousin Hadley, she's dead. Which bums out our dear Sookie, but then again they weren't too close. Now she has to go into Louisiana to sort through her cousins vampire affairs, and she has to meet and greet the Queen of Luisiana herself.

Thanks to Eric, Bill is in the worst dog house he could find himself in, with regards to Sookie (but I won't spoil that to much more) TAKE THAT BILL!! I would love for Eric and Sookie to work some stuff out, but it's looking like that shifter from the last book is pertty serious in making Sookie his, Quin is in the running for her heart now.

This one's right up there with book 4 as a favorite within the series. I like Quinn, and hope he's a good guy because I dig him. Bill, well, poor Bill... but not really. As always, I root for Eric, and still place my bet on him!!!

I'm thrilled with the novels so far, loved the show but yeah it's not the same at all by this point. That's okay because really I like the book better, as always, but the show stands on it's own as a separate thing entirely. I'm surprised it took six books to bring up Sookie's heritage, I'm hoping for more info about in the future!

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Book Review: All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

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All Together Dead
Sookie Stackhouse #7

Author: Charlaine Harris
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy Mystery
Released: May 1st 2007
Review Source: Ace Books

Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable.

And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life—the shapeshifter Quinn—but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

Sookie's been dragged into plenty of vamp matters before, but now things are starting to cross a whole new line altogether. The more she is seen with the higher court of Vamps, the more she is exposed to the Sups community, and the door is closing fast behind her for her to remain an anonymous (and happy) human. Her latest beau, Quinn is hiding secrets of his own, good or bad Sookie's going to find out...

The Vampire summit at first seems kinda nice, the traveling goes smooth enough. That should have been a hint how badly things would go, the calm before the storm. At the Queen's beck and call, at all the various appointments and meet and greets, Sookie's kept busy, scanning everyone who comes near the queen. Andre, her right hand vamp is keeping a scary eye on Sookie, make's her skin crawl. The last time Sookie visited the queen there was an all out masacure at the Queens residence. What will happen now?

I liked this particular book, it's a fun get awa from bon Temps, and it shows more of what Sookie is capable. Yet it shows that even humanity would abuse her talents just as the Supernatural community, if they could get ahold of her, or Barry the Bellman. Poor Sookie, she can not keep any sort of wardrobe intact. At this rate I'm surprised she's not walking around naked. If you've been reading the series, you'd understand. I am thrilled with Eric making strides to sort his confused feelings for Sookie, but damn if it ain't at a bad time with the sexy tiger in play. Can't wait to grab the next book!

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Book Review: The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillian

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The Perfect Girl
Author: Gilly MacMillian
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Mystery | Thriller | Suspense
Release Date: September 6th 2016
Review Source: William Morrow | Edelweiss

Zoe Maisey is a seventeen-year-old musical prodigy with a genius IQ. Three years ago, she was involved in a tragic incident that left three classmates dead. She served her time, and now her mother, Maria, is resolved to keep that devastating fact tucked far away from their new beginning, hiding the past even from her new husband and demanding Zoe do the same.

Tonight Zoe is giving a recital that Maria has been planning for months. It needs to be the performance of her life. But instead, by the end of the evening, Maria is dead.

In the aftermath, everyone—police, family, Zoe’s former solicitor, and Zoe herself—tries to piece together what happened. But as Zoe knows all too well, the truth is rarely straightforward, and the closer we are to someone, the less we may see.

The Story: You are following several point of views throughout the book, but the main character is Zoe. Zoe bacilli had to change her life as she knew it die to a fatal accident that she was charged for. But when the past becomes present again, Zoe's mother winds up dead. Did Zoe do it?

The Likes: I enjoyed the suspenseful part of the book, which pick up more towards the end. And in general the last few chapters were what really pique my interest. 

The Dislikes: Here I have a few, I would have preferred the story to be told in maybe just one or two point of views, the multiple ones had me lost or just wanting to almost skip over that specific character or scene.  I didn't like that it took almost reading the whole book to reach the exciting parts that actually did keep me on the edge of my seat.  And some characters, probably could have been left out. 

The Rating: So with all that I said, even though the story finally did pick up towards the end, it still wasn't enough of a boost to get a higher rating. Would I still recommend, sure. 

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