Month: October 2019

Book Review: The Lies We Tell, by Debra Webb

the lies we tell
Image belongs to Harlequin/Mira.

Title:  The Lies We Tell
Author:    Debra Webb
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Rating:  4 out of 5

A serial killer is after her. Dr. Rowan Dupont knows this. And she’s ready for the waiting to be over. But first, she wants answers. She was just a child when her mother took her own life, and now she realizes she didn’t know her mother at all. How well did the killer know her mother? And what secrets was her mother hiding?

When a bizarre double murder leads to even more horrible discoveries, Rowan works with her lifelong friend Billy, now chief of police, to uncover the truth. But Rowan’s childhood home—a Victorian funeral home—has seen more dark secrets than Rowan can imagine. And her desire for answers only leads to more questions.

I have not read the first book in this series, but that didn’t significantly detract from reading this one. I had no problem catching up with the backstory and settling myself into this story. Rowan is struggling with the horrors from her past—and there are a lot of them—as well as waiting for the serial killer she’s known for years to come after her. She knows he’s watching, but she can’t just not seek to find answers to her questions. This a is a solid suspense read, with just a hint of romance.

Debra Webb is an award-winning, bestselling author. The Lies We Tell is her newest novel, the second in The Undertaker’s Daughter series.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Mira via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

What I Read in September (2019)

Books Read in September:  21

Books Read for the Year: 165/175

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:

Amanda, by Deborah White Smith (TBR). Found this one moderately annoying.

Seeking Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (spiritual). A solid read.

Wives and Daughters, by Elizabeth Gaskell (classic). Do you know how mad I was when I realized the author died before finishing this? It was slow to start, but I ended up enjoying it immensely.

What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman (nonfiction). Eh. Not a fan.

The Rabbit Girls, Anna Ellory (cultural). This was so difficult to read, but so good!

For Review:

29seconds

29 Seconds, by T.M. Logan. What would you do if you could make one person disappear—and no one would ever know? When Sarah rescues a young girl, the girl’s father offers her this chance…and she decides to take it to get rid of her intolerable boss. Nothing about this book was an easy read.

trapeze

Trapeze, by Leigh Ansell. Corey has been part of the circus her whole life, as a trapeze artist. When the circus catches on fire, she finds herself living a “normal” life in a small town, where no one knows who she is. But secrets—no matter how big or scary—are hard to keep.

The Color of the Sun, by David Almond. I don’t even know what to say about this. I finished it, but decided not to review it. I can’t tell you what the plot was, or the point, or really anything.

echoes of war

Echoes of War, by Cheryl Campbell. I love this cover, but the book was merely meh. Fascinating dystopian premise—but the execution left something to be desired, along with the MC.

widow of pale harbor

The Widow of Pale Harbor, by Hester Fox. I loved Fox’s first book, The Witch of Willow Hall, but didn’t enjoy this one quite as much. It tried really hard to be gloomy and atmospheric—and succeeded—but I guessed the killer pretty early on, and the romance between the two main characters felt a little forced to me. Still an enjoyable read, though.

9780778308720.indd

The Stranger Inside, by Lisa Unger. This was an interesting murder mystery/flashback to childhood trauma/healing from the past read.

what happened that night

What Happened that Night, by Deanna Cameron. Clara’s sister killed the neighborhood golden boy for what he did to Clara. Or did she? Clara thinks she knows why her sister did it, but the truth is far darker than she can imagine.

Six Goodbyes We Never Said_FC

Six Goodbyes We Never Said, by Candace Ganger. Naima is grieving for her father, a fallen Marine, and struggling with her crippling OCD and other mental health issues. Dew still hasn’t processed his parents’ deaths or learned how to handle his anxiety. Can the two of them help each other process?

the immortal city

The Immortal City, by Amy Kuivalainen. Part murder mystery, part scientific mystery, part myth, this wasn’t a bad read, but parts of it were a little too rough-draft for me.

coming home for christmas

Coming Home for Christmas, by RaeAnne Thayne. An enjoyable romance read dealing with mental illness.

 

a wedding in december

A Wedding in December, by Sarah Morgan. Talk about family drama! This is three romances in one book, and very enjoyable.

pretty guilty women

Pretty Guilty Women, by Gina LaManna. When four women confess to the same murder, it’ll take a while to sort out the truth. Loved this thriller!

the wendy

The Wendy, by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown.  I loved this re-telling of Peter Pan, and I can’t wait to read the second one next week!

today we go home

Today We Go Home, Kelli Estes.  I really enjoyed this tale of Larkin, who fought in Afghanistan and is still reeling from the choices she made there when she finds the diary of Emily Wilson, who disguised herself as a man to fight with the Union army during the Civil War. An excellent read!

Just Because:

Sword and Pen, by Rachel Caine. The final book in the Great Library series. I wanted to absolutely adore this book, like I did the rest of the series, but I didn’t quite like it as much as the other books in the series.

Every Body Yoga, by Jessamyn Stanley. I loved the voice and body positivity in this!

Book Review: Today We Go Home, Kelli Estes

today we go home
Image belongs to Sourcebooks Landmark.

Title:  Today We Go Home
Author:    Kelli Estes
Genre:  Fiction
Rating:  5 out of 5

Larkin Bennett doesn’t know what to do with herself now:  she’s out of the military, trying to heal, and cannot forget what happened in Afghanistan. She knows she must live with the consequences of the choices she made that day, but she’s not sure she has the strength. Until she finds a treasure:  the diary of Emily Wilson, who disguised herself as a man to fight for the Union army during the Civil War.

In 1861 Indiana, Emily is happy with farm life with her family. Until her father and one brother leave for the war—and don’t come home. Longing for change, Emily disguises herself as a man—knowing in this case, her own comrades are just as dangerous to her safety as the enemy soldiers. But pretending she’s someone else allows Emily to get to know herself, and her reasons for fighting, even better.

I loved this book! And I don’t generally choose to read or like military books (or movies, for that matter). I loved seeing the journeys of these two women, Larkin and Emily, and the obstacles they faced. Both are strong, believable characters, and I never knew there were so many well-known cases of disguised women soldiers in the past! Now I’m completely intrigued by the subject. An excellent read!

Kelli Estes grew up in Washington state and used to work for an airplane manufacturer, allowing her to travel. Today We Go Home is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)