Vanished by Irene Hannon

My edition: Library Paperback
Pages: 314
Series: Private Justice #1
Genre: Christian, Suspense, Mystery, Romance
Published: Jan 1, 2013, by Revell
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

Reporter Moira Harrisons is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a confusing detour places her on a rural, wooded road, she’s startled by the sudden appearance of a lone figure caught in the beam of her headlights. Though Moira jams on her brakes, the car careens across the wet pavement–and the solid thump against the side of the vehicle tells her she hit the person before she crashes into a tree on the far side of the road.
A dazed Moira is relieved when a man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then everything fades to black. When she comes to an hour later, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person lying on the side of the road. But she can’t forget the look of terror she saw on the person’s face in the instant before her headlights swung away.

The person she hit had been in trouble. She’s sure of it. But she can’t get anyone to believe her story–except a handsome former police detective, now a private eye, who agrees to take on the case.

From the very first page, readers will be hooked into this fast-paced story full of shocking secrets from fan-favorite Irene Hannon. Vanished is the exciting first book in the Private Justice series: Three justice seekers who got burned playing by the rules now have a second chance to make things right.

Review:

Irene Hannon is an author that I was recommended and I had seen her books on my recommendation lists. This is the first book I have read by her. While the writing was good, I figured out a lot of the plot before it really happened. I’m not going to judge that her books are normally like this but for this one, I figured it out.

I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is a disappointment, I would say that it fell a little short in the beginning. The problems I had with the book are solely on me. I am particular with mysteries due to if I figure it out fast, I lose all interest in the book. I also don’t like when the villain is given away early on in the book. I do like getting their POV but I don’t like knowing who it actually is.

In this book, the “good Samaritan” is revealed early. I get that the mystery is why and what happened to the woman that vanished. This just wasn’t my full cup of tea. I did like some of it. I wasn’t a fan of the romance though. I didn’t feel the connection between the two MCs. But other than that, about the halfway point is when the story started to pick up. The “good Samaritan” reminded me in a way of a Criminal Minds episode. Especially, the ending, that really gave me that kind of vibe the BAU would investigate.

Double Trouble by Susan May Warren

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 335
Series: PJ Sugar #2
Genre: Mystery, Christian, Romance
Published: Feb. 10, 2010
Rating: 2.5 stars

Synopsis:

With one solved case under her belt, PJ Sugar is ready to dive into her career as a private investigator. Or at least a PI’s “assistant” until she can prove herself to Jeremy Kane, her new boss. Suddenly PJ’s seeing crime everywhere. But is it just in her head, or can she trust her instincts? When she takes on her first official case—house-sitting for a witness in protective custody—Jeremy assures her there’s no danger involved. But it soon becomes clear that there is someone after the witness . . . and now they’re after PJ, too.

Review:

I didn’t mind the love triangle in the first book because it wasn’t a focal point and she wasn’t dating either hero. Now in this second book, I am not a fan.

The plot… Not a fan of that either. It was unrealistic at best. In the synopsis, as well as when the job is being described to PJ, it sounds like she is house-sitting for a woman in witness protection. But no, she has to impersonate this woman in which she has a like three-page interaction with her. This woman also has tattoos, which if you think about it would not work. Even though someone painted it on, people who really know tattoos can see the fake. She has a different style than PJ and different hair. She looks and acts nothing like PJ so it just isn’t the best to have PJ impersonate her.

I don’t know how I feel about Jeremy in this book. Boone in the first book didn’t feel fully flushed out which I didn’t mind because that gives the character growth in the next books. But in this book, I really didn’t like his character. I really didn’t like that PJ was in a relationship with Boone but still thought about Jeremy in certain ways at times. It felt slimy to read. It’s obvious from the first book that Jeremy will be the long-term love interest. Why have PJ date Boone? Why have Boone be serious enough to propose? It seemed like unnecessary drama that really didn’t do much for the plot.

I normally love the characters Susan creates but this book series doesn’t add up to her others. To be honest, if I read this series before the others, I wouldn’t give Susan another chance.

Though I will say the scene with Gabby in the rain hit me in the feels. That was a bit hard to read. I am going to read the third book because I do want to know what goes down with her and Jeremy. I just don’t think I am going to read it right away.

Nothing but Trouble by Susan May Warren

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 341
Series: PJ Sugar #1
Genre: Christian, Romance, Mystery
Published: Jan. 1, 2009
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis:

It’s not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her home town, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend’s husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder—who also happens to be PJ’s former flame—is convinced it’s an open-and-shut case, PJ’s not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend’s husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

Review:

It’s safe to say that I only added this to my TBR because it’s Susan May Warren. She is my new favorite author. But it is also safe to say that after I read the blurb when I started to read it, I was skeptical about if I was going to like this story.

This turned out better than I thought. Even with the love triangle which wasn’t a full focus. Though if I had to choose, I say I’m team Jeremy. PJ is just returning to town after ten years of being gone. After reconnecting, her best friend’s husband is wanted for murder.

PJ has to figure out who the real killer is while dodging her ex and the new guy who seems to be getting under her skin. I absolutely loved both men but am a complete Jeremy fan. This was one of those books that I didn’t have to worry about law enforcement because it was a main aspect and there was only one thing I had a critical comment about. Other than that I have the second book and will pick that up soon.

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 375
Stand alone
Genre: YA, Romance, Mystery
Published: July 10, 2012
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy’s affection before. So when the hottest boy she’s ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she’s the center of his universe, naturally she’s going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right? The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she’s convinced he’s a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he’s the sweetest psychopathic killer she’s ever met. Not to mention he’s brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts?

Review:

The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she’s convinced he’s a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he’s the sweetest psychopathic killer she’s ever met. Not to mention he’s brutally hot.

This is from the synopsis. After reading the synopsis, I start to wonder why did I put this on my TBR. I didn’t want to get rid of it even though I know that this will be a problem, but I have read Kelly before so maybe it’s just me trusting in Kelly’s writing.

I should probably warn you. SPOILERS! Also, a trigger warning if you are thinking of reading this book. This book features sexual harrassment and nonconsentually touching.

The story takes place in Canton, a suburb of Detriot. Ellie is sad and bored due to her three best friends going to hockey camp without her. She is not allowed to go because she is a girl. That’s the only explanation we get. A moving van parks at the house across the street from her along with a BMW. This is important because she focuses on the BMW for a weird, horrible reason.

At first, I wasn’t a fan of Ellie due to her being judgmental. To include some of her thoughts she hated on the fact that a BMW is a foreign car. (Someone tell her that American-made cars just mean all the parts were put together in America. The parts are *gasp* foreign.) She also body-shamed the moms on her block in the same paragraph as the BMW incident.

Again, I have no idea why I read this. I had anxiety when Seth hurt Bruno the neighbor’s boxer dog. Speaking of I should say Seth is the creepiest guy I have read about in a while. I’m glad the author made him hot because it shows not all creepy guys are ugly and old. *cough, cough, Armie Hammer cough*

There is no build-up relationship. Seth is straight 100 from the get-go. Which is another thing I liked that the author did. He knows way too much about Ellie before she even talks to him. He gets into her personal space, and he sexually harasses her. I loved Ellie fought against him until the 50% mark. Then she goes stupid because Seth plays mind tricks with her and she falls for it.

What is with parents in YA? Like, are none of them critical thinkers? The mom seriously made me angry.

You are a smart, strong, beautiful young woman, Ellie,” she said. “It was only a matter of time before boys started realizing that. And now that they are, you’re going to have to learn how to deal with it.”

Really? Ellie is uncomfortable around this dude and you are making her go on a forced date. You are a mommy dearest nominee in my book. Her mom makes her feel guilty for not wanting to go with Seth to go buy her first car instead of waiting for her dad to come back. I don’t know about y’all, but buying my first car is a big experience and I wouldn’t want so random guy who just moved in across the street to go with me instead of one of my parents. Not to mention a guy who has been harassing me. I completely feel for Ellie.

I must admit at the 50% mark I didn’t know what to fully think of Seth but I still knew he had one too many red flags for me to forgive easily. Though I love the story and it was entertaining. Seth is not to be romanticized because him being possessive and he’s just not a good guy.

The reason I rated this high is due to the fact that Kelly had me on my seat. I had no idea who the killer is, and for the most part, I really did think it was Seth. The reason it didn’t get the full five stars is that it is putting a bad picture into the heads of young girls about guys like Seth. I really wish she ended up with one of the J’s.

The Dry by Jane Harper

My edition: Kindle Unlimited w/ audiobook
Pages: 329
Time/Narrator: 10 hours/ Stephen Shanahan
Series: Aaron Falk #1
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Published: Jan. 2, 2018
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis:

A small town hides big secrets in this atmospheric, page-turning debut mystery by award-winning author Jane Harper.

In the grip of the worst drought in a century, the farming community of Kiewarra is facing life and death choices daily when three members of a local family are found brutally slain.
Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk reluctantly returns to his hometown for the funeral of his childhood friend, loath to face the townsfolk who turned their backs on him twenty years earlier.
But as questions mount, Falk is forced to probe deeper into the deaths of the Hadler family. Because Falk and Luke Hadler shared a secret. A secret Falk thought was long buried. A secret Luke’s death now threatens to bring to the surface in this small Australian town, as old wounds in bleed into new ones.

Review:

I have this on both kindle unlimited and audio. I read most of the book and then listened to the end while cooking dinner, Wy played his video game, and JB (our son) played in his walker.

I highly suggest reading this instead of listening. It helps when the book goes into a flashback. There were a couple of times I got a bit lost but then realized it was a flashback. But the audio is still good. I just feel like it’s a book that needs to be physically in front.

I am in the minority when it comes to this book. I liked it and the ending was one that I didn’t guess. Though I feel like it didn’t live up to the hype. At first, while an easy read I wasn’t interested. I didn’t have the feeling of I needed to know who did it. I didn’t have that feeling of being on the edge of my seat. I missed what everyone else raved about in their reviews.

Great writing. Just didn’t live up to the hype for me.

The Cabin by Natasha Preston

My edition: Kindle received from Netgalley

Pages: 336

Series: Stand-Alone

Synopsis: Off of Goodreads

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this new thriller from Natasha Preston, author of The Cellar and Awake.

When Mackenzie treks to a secluded cabin in the woods with six friends, she expects a fun weekend of partying, drinking, and hookups. But when they wake to find two of their own dead and covered in blood, it’s clear there’s a killer among them.

As the police try to unravel the case, Mackenzie launches her own investigation. Before long secrets start to emerge, revealing a sinister web of sins among the original seven friends. The killer is still free. Every one of them is a suspect. And Mackenzie starts to realize that no one is innocent...

Rating: 2 stars

Review: I received this from Sourcebooks and Netgalley for an honest review.

Well I don’t know what to say. With a blurb like that it sounded amazing. I started reading a few pages and wasn’t really liking where it was going. There was a lot of drinking. There were teenagers having sex. Oh and two of them come up murdered. The next few things I have to say is going to need this picture.

I’m seriously going to spoiling a couple things so IF you want to read this book do not go on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I see you went on… fine it’s your own fault that the book will be ruined. I warned you!

Mackenzie and her friends are going to a cabin in the middle of the woods. Hmmm…

Oh did I mention they just graduated from a… I think high school. Sorry I don’t know the U.K. school system well and I’m a bit lazy and don’t want to look it up and try and to understand it. Plus I’m writing this review.

Anydick, we have a bunch of teenagers going to a cabin in the middle of the woods. Most of the group don’t like Josh. Unfortunately the cabin they are going to is Josh’s so they really can’t say much to him about not coming. Also his mysterious brother comes along. A brother that Josh barely knows. Of course Mackenzie, who by the way is our perfect boring attractive girl, thinks the brother, Blake, is hot. Of course right! Oh did I mention he gets under Mackenzie’s skin?

Who knew that was going to happen?

Well lets get past all the drinking and sex to the next morning. Mackenzie wakes up next to Blake after the night. They get dressed and go downstairs. Mackenzie then goes into the kitchen to make tea. Guess what she finds…

If you guessed two dead bodies of her friends, then you guessed right. Ding. Ding. Ding. Sorry you didn’t win anything.

Well with two people dead, not really sad to see them go *COUGH* Josh *COUGH*, the police start to question everyone. The police think that it is one of the friends. There were no signs of forced entry. There were seven people in the house and two end up dead. It turns out they were stabbed during the night and no one heard anything.

Reason why, they were drugged. Now they have a detective following them around and everyone in town thinks that one of them is the killer.

Now I got around 26% when I really just couldn’t care anymore and skimmed the rest of the book. I found out who was the killer and a ton more drinking. I’m surprised one of them hasn’t died of alcohol poisoning. And if I was drugged by one of my friends by them using alcohol I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t continue to drink around them.

I didn’t really like the story. From what I did get was a lot of drinking with teenagers, sex, and a murder. Pretty much a crappy horror film without everyone dying at the end. This could have been a good book but the author told not showed. The narration was putting me to sleep. Mackenzie was an alright heroine, her thoughts could have been written a bit better.

Would I recommend this, most likely not.