 Welcome back readers! Today, I'll be discussing one of the most anticipated mysteries of the summer, Girls' Night Out. Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke's latest novel will be released to the public on July 24, 2018! A BIG thanks to Lake Union (Amazon Publishing) for sending me a free ARC in exchange for my honest review. Let's get to rating! Girls' Night Out by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke (4 stars) For estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, it's time to heal the old wounds between them. What better way to do that than take a girls' trip to Mexico? However, even after being reunited, no one is telling the whole truth. And suddenly, Ashley disappears. In the hours following their friend's disappearance, Natalie and Lauren work to piece together their hazy memories of the trip. Did Ashley pack up and leave? Was she kidnapped? Or could Natalie or Lauren snapped under the weight of their lies? Review It's no coincidence that Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke's upcoming novel is being released in the heart of summertime. Girls' Night Out is a perfect summer pick! Although many described this novel as a "thriller," the authors' latest work isn't a thrilling suspense novel. Instead, Girls' Night Out is filled with a sheer sense of eeriness that makes this a light mystery- perfect for lounging on the edge of the water or snuggling in bed on a Sunday. With every turn of a page, I became more eager to find out the truth. WHAT happened to Ashley, and WHO is guilty of her disappearance? Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke's ability to coauthor this novel is nothing short of admirable. Their ability to create one, cohesive voice is astounding. While the writing in this book is excellent, it's the characters, both primary and secondary, that make Girls' Night Out a great summer pick! Each and every character, although lively and authentic, is immensely different than the others. The grand personalities and shocking secrets featured in this piece make Fenton and Steinke's latest book a great choice for fans of character-based novels. Ready to follow your gut and discover the truth of Ashley's whereabouts? Pick up a copy of Girls' Night Out on July 24th!
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 Welcome back book lovers! Today, I'll be reviewing one of 2017 most renown thrillers! Lie to Me by J.T. Ellison (5 stars) Sutton and Ethan Montclair's lives are not what they appear. Although they seem absolutely in love, that couldn't be further away from the truth. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals, the two love and despise each other. Suddenly, Sutton disappears. And as the police investigate, the truth unravels. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Or has something much more sinister occurred? Review OKAY READERS. Full disclosure... Lie to Me is my favorite read of 2018 (so far) and it's looking very hard to beat. This book features outstanding writing. Ellison's diction is rich and eloquent, but also clear and comprehensible. With the turn of every page, a thrilling story comes to life. The author's vibrant syntax makes the novel easy to devour, making Lie to Me an ideal pick for lovers of literature. Through vivid language, Ellison manages to create and develop a storyline that keeps the audience on the edge of their chair. Each chapter stimulates a deep sense of suspense and danger within its readers, leaving many members of the audience feeling uneasy- just like a thriller should. While Lie to Me captivates with its exhilarating hook and climax, the characters in this book are what make it a standout, 5-star read. Although the protagonists are striking, its the secondary characters that are most memorable. Because my favorite moments throughout the book are significant events, I can't say much else without spoiling the story. Despite being a perfect pick for fans of thrillers and mysteries, I'm certain that admirers of other genres will enjoy Lie to Me! Have you read J.T. Ellison's Lie to Me? Leave your thoughts down below!  Welcome back to AZE! Today, I'll be discussing one of Agatha Christie's most renown pieces... The Big Four by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot #5) (4 stars) Standing in the doorway of Hercule Poirot's bedroom was an uninvited guest, covered in dust from head to toe. The man's haggard face stared blankly for a moment, and then he crumbled to the floor. Who is this man? Is he suffering from shock or exhaustion? Most importantly, what is the significance of the figure 4 scribbled all across a white sheet of paper? Review The Big Four, one of Agatha Christie's most popular novels, is famous due to the nature and structure of the story. While most of Christie's works analyze one specific case, this book features multiple stories that are all wound together to create a much larger narrative. Many readers have suggested that The Big Four reads similar to a short story collection as opposed to a classic literary work. While that may appear true to some, the book's structure is what's made this novel memorable for so many readers. I can say with all certainty that while The Big Four isn't my favorite in the Poirot series, it was quite enjoyable. Although I prefer the classic detective mystery- one specific case followed by a set of clues- this change in narrative was fresh and pleasurable. It was interesting to see how versatile Christie's writing can be. However, this "short story essence" resulted in the piece lacking character depth, something that I didn't particularly enjoy. Despite most readers being familiar with Poirot and Hastings, the accounts and thoughts of other characters involved was short and vague. Because of this, The Big Four leaves readers feeling like there should've been more. Despite this, it's interesting to see how Poirot shifts from The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) to The Big Four. While both novels include the brilliant detective, the plot structure varies so greatly that other elements in the story, such as character and scene development, are greatly impacted. If you're interested in short story collections, The Big Four is truly a great pick! However, if you're looking for a detective mystery, I suggest trying a different book in the Poirot series (perhaps The Murder of Roger Ackroyd)!  Hello book lovers! This week I wanted to share my review of PageHabit, an up and coming book subscription box. There are two distinct elements that made PageHabit stand out. First, each monthly box comes with a hardcover novel from the genre of your choice. There are 8 genres to choose from: historical fiction, mystery, horror, fantasy, science fiction, romance, young adult fiction, or literary fiction- making this subscription box a great choice for book lovers who want to be surprised with what they receive but also want to play it safe. For example, I'm very open to reading most books under the mystery, thriller, or horror genres but am skeptical when reading a book in the romance or science fiction genres. Because of this, I ordered the mystery box. Another element that lured me to PageHabit was the price! Each box is $29.99 plus shipping, which makes it affordable when compared to most book subscription boxes in the market. Now that we've addressed what sets PageHabit apart from other bookish boxes, let's review the March Mystery Box! PageHabit March Mystery Box: 4 stars The box came with:
 Hello again bibliophiles! Today, I'll be discussing The Dark Room, written by best-selling novelist Natalie Banks. I want to give a huge thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a free review copy in exchange for my honest review. Now, let's get to rating! The Dark Room by Natalie Banks (4 stars) Anna Walker finds herself in a steamy extramarital affair with sexy film photographer Alec Prentice. But soon, his bad boy ways and her guilty conscience driver her to end the relationship abruptly. Not long after ending the affair, she frighteningly realizes she's being stalked. As she desperately tries to conceal the affair, the stalking escalates. Although her safety is jeopardized, she refuses to get help from fear that her secret will be exposed. Forced to take matters into her own hands, she finds herself face to face with her stalker. And suddenly, she's clutching a gun in her hand... Review The Dark Room was my first Natalie Banks novel, but it certainly will not be the last... WOW. Let's talk about character development- one of this book's most notable strengths. The author makes this piece memorable by developing and portraying vivid, realistic, and very relatable characters. Each character, especially Anna Walker, is absolutely engaging. It's impossible for readers to turn each page without feeling a connection to the protagonist or the emotions being conveyed. The Dark Room features a handful of themes, but one of the most significant is making mistakes. In order to address this concept and other themes, Banks takes her audience through Anna's very familiar journey, making each reader reflect on their own actions and the consequences that have come from them. There is also no doubt that this piece features brilliant writing. Banks' writing style is colorful but comprehensive, making this a fast-paced page-turner. Through her writing, the author is able to create an uncanny environment. While there isn't an essence of immense thrill or suspense, there is a steady sense of eeriness, making danger seem apparent yet unpreventable. As a reader, I felt completely captivated and intrigued by this uncertainty. At any moment, something tragic would occur and there was nothing I could do to stop it. The last sixty pages of this novel were absolutely thrilling. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have because I solved the mystery beforehand. Nonetheless, The Dark Room was such an enjoyable read! If you're in the mood for a character-based mystery or a light thriller, this is the book for you! Have you read The Dark Room? Share your thoughts down below!  Welcome back readers! Today, I'll be discussing my second May Book of the Month pick! And Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (4 stars) Ellie was fifteen- her mother's golden girl. And then one day, she was gone. It's been ten years since Ellie's disappearance, but Laurel has never given up hope. On an ordinary day at a cafe, a charming man sweeps Laurel off her feet. In no time, she's staying the night at his place and meeting his nine-year-old daughter. But Poppy, Floyd's daughter, is the spitting image of Ellie. And all the unanswered questions that haunted Laurel for years come flooding back. What happened to Ellie? Where could she possibly be? Review I want to start off by saying that Lisa Jewell is a brilliant writer. Her ability to portray and deliver such a vivid and colorful story is partly why I didn't exactly love this novel. Somehow, Jewell managed to create scenes and characters that became more and more alive with the turn of each page. If you've read And Then She Was Gone, you could understand why this could be a problem for some members of the audience. I appreciate how lifelike and graphic each character appeared. I was able to picture how magnificent and beautiful Poppy, Ellie, and Hannah were. But with this, came the ugly as well. Whenever I read through the horrific parts of this book, my heart broke and broke until I reached the ending and was left genuinely hurting for the shattered mess left behind. Although this novel is a 4-star read for me, it has nothing to do with the characters or the author. To be frank, I felt absolutely defeated when I reached the ending of And Then She Was Gone. Deep down, I hoped for some sort of happy ending, but the other part of me knew that wouldn't be the case. Jewell compels her audience to face that the occurences in this book happen in the real world every single day. While the writing was superb, I couldn't enjoy this novel because it made me feel a deep sense of horror and despair. This is a great piece, but simply not for me. Nonetheless, I would definitely consider reading Lisa Jewell's other works! If you've picked up her other pieces, share your thoughts in the comments! |