My Daddy is a Hero: How Chris Watts Went from Family Man to Family Killer by Lena Derhally

I've always been interested in the Chris Watts case. I felt that everywhere I looked their just wasn't enough information or that the information was all over the place. I wanted to know more and when I was given the opportunity to listen to the Audio Version of My Daddy is a Hero, I was hesitant, I have never been a huge fan of audio books as I tend to get distracted while listening to a book or the reader doesn't capture my attention. I decided to give it a try .... and I am thankful that I did.

I had to rewind a few times and sometimes the reader's lisp on certain words was distracting but I was able to push through it all and complete the book and I am thankful that I am.

So far this is the most comprehensive work I have found on the Chris Watt's case. Derhally recreated the the night Watts murdered his family. She details the investigation using various sources and examines the relationships in his life. She also analyzes him and uses her knowledge as a psychotherapist to profile him. 

There are many times the passages in the book are emotionally drenching because it deals with two precious little girls who became the victim of  a person who should have treasured and protected them over all others. This is an excellent read (or listen) for other crime junkies like me. 

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks (Author), Sarah Pekkanen (Author)

I read, “You Are Not Alone” months ago but somehow forgot to blog about it! This is surprising as I usually forget to blog about books that I find mediocre at best, which is not the case with this book.

I have been on a bit of thriller kick lately. Our heroine, Shay, along with insights from other characters tell the story I real time and via flashbacks.

Shay witnesses at suicide and inserts herself into the lives on the victim’s friends. She attends the memorial, invents a fictitious connect to the victim and quickly finds herself with a new group of friends. Her trusting character and lonely lifestyle make her vulnerable. You find an urge to protect her, even when she makes you squeamish because you just know something is amiss and when it comes down to it Shay will have to rely on herself.

This is an odd thriller with lots of unlikable and savory characters. Super fast read that will keep you entertained.

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus

One of Us is Next is the sequel to One of Us is Lying. I want to report that it does NOT fall into the dreaded slump a lot of sequels tend to fall into. It is a whole new ballpark.

This time it’s a game of Truth of Dare. The minor characters of One of Us is Next play much larger roles. They are the target of a new game that is intent on ruining lives and relationships. Truth’s pit friends and family against one another Dares are a mixed bag of peanuts.

McManus pulls you back into the excitement of reading, One of Us is Lying, for the first time but amps it up with my twists. It’s easy to figure out who it is but it’s much more difficult to figure out how and why and once it’s revealed and the curveball hits you in the face, you’ll find that you loved this and want to hear more about the teens of Bayview. They are a chaotic, squirmy, sinister bunch.

The Chalice and the Crown by Kassandra Flamouri

The Chalice and the Crown by Kassandra Flamouri

Published: June 05, 2020

Sasha Nikolayeva is a young, talented ballerina who has just landed her most prestigious role. It should be time of rejoicing and pride but the nightmares that have always plagued her take a hold of her. She sinks into them and it’s feared that she is suffering from the same mental ailments that took her mothers life when she was in her prime.

Her mind and body deteriorate as the nightmare’s she falls into take her to live in the City of Roses. A city in which she has no voice and is a thrall (a slave). The thralls are not considered human, they are treated like dolls and pets. Any instance of them being aware could result in punishment and death.
Her dance brings her out of her mentally entrapped state but it could cost her life if anyone of power was to find out. She builds a secret relationship with a few trusted individuals who can potentially help her find a way out and back into her world.

Sasha will have to choose between returning to her beloved grandmother and others she finds dear or stay in the City of Roses and fight.

This book is dark, gritty and leaves you wondering if Sasha can balance the line between magic, insanity and reality. I didn’t expect to be pulled into this book so quickly and found myself devouring it. I am not one who normally enjoys magical aspects but the writing, storyline and the authors ability to make words and scenes alive mesmerized me.

Be prepared for unanswered questions but I assume that is because this will become a series and not because the writer is done telling Shasha’s story.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What You Wish For: A Novel by Katherine Center | Jul 14, 2020

What You Wish For  by Katherine Center 

Published:  Jul 14, 2020

Samantha Casey LOVES her job as a librarian and her life in Texas, until Duncan Carpenter, the new principal arrives.

Samantha knew, Duncan from a previous job, he used to be fun and full of energy, now he is hard and all about rules and regulations. The Duncan she knew and loved has lost his spark and has been replaced with a man who is in every way the opposite of the man she knew.

Duncan quickly makes changes to the school making everyone unhappy and frustrated. They want him fired. Then events unravel changing dynamics, and revealing secrets.

The cast of characters mesh well and move the story along in easy manner, making it flow with ease.

There are some sensitive topics involved but overall you walk away form this book with some joy and happiness, which is something we need with the state of affairs in our world.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir by Michele Harper | Jul 7, 2020

I love medical drama and I wrongly assumed that this would be filled with it. It's more about a personal journey filled in with medical issues.

Harper had a rough childhood and growing up was challenging at best. Medical graduation should have been a shinning moment but personal matters took some of that shine away.

Her personal life and her yoga ramblings take up a large portion of the book but I wanted to know more about the trials of being a ER doctor and read about more than just a few cases in which she learned a life lesson from.

This book isn't for me but I can see how others would appreciate it. I would classify this more as a self help book rather than a memoir.

It's an easy read but I did skim over lots of yoga talk but don't let that sway you from some powerful and compelling cases such as the gun shot victim and a female military member who was raped while serving our country.

One of Us Is Lying (One of Us Is Lying #1) by Karen M. McManus

 

Five high school students find themselves in detention but soon one will be dead and the other four will be suspects in a murder. 

The story unravels as each character's point of view is revealed and with that secrets, fears, flaws and lies are divulged, making a cast of interesting yet stereotypical characters (which I didn't mind at all).  

Characters grow, evolve and learn life lessons. This is a book, I could easily see turning into a binge worthy Netflix series!      

There is something nostalgic about this book with a mix or modern day that made me feel that I was a teenager back in school,  watching it unfold,  snickering in the hallways with my friends and contemplating who the guilty party is and suspecting everyone! 

Super fast read, can be read easily in one day or less! Don't leave this in your to be read pile as long as I did.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

                                                                         

Home Before Dark is quite a thriller! It spooked me a bit and I don't spook easily! Riley Sager has a flair for writing thrillers and her words pull you into her novel. Be prepared to be obsessed!

Do you remember Amityville? If you don't  google it now because Sager obviously got some of her backstory from it and put a modern twist on this novel.

Twenty-Five years ago, Maggie Holt, just a young child fled her home of  Baneberry Hall in the middle of the night with her parents. Her father wrote a nonfiction novel about the families ordeal in the home. It became infamous and when Maggie Holt returns to renovate the home after her fathers death, the small town people aren't exactly thrilled to see her.

Things go bump in the night and the events of the book unravel as presented nearly word for word.

Maggie begins to question if the story her father wrote was indeed real as she previously had doubts about its authenticity. 

This is a book within book story (which is one of my favorite types and seldom done right!). Maggie's father, Ewan's book is weaved into the story and it has a very different voice and feel to it. Expect to get some spidey senses especially if you're reading past midnight and home alone! 

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
Expected publication: September 22nd 2020

This is a difficult review for me to write because I typically enjoy Jodi Picoult's novels but this is my least favorite novel of hers. I felt as though my brain was being bombarded with information I didn't want to know or care for and as a result of that I found myself getting lost over and over again. Egyptology is interesting to a degree but the over abundance of it just left me drained resulting in me  putting the book down over and over again.  I spent so much time looking up and researching information from this read that I ended up feeling like I was tasked with a project rather than just being able to enjoy a read. 

The gist of this book is that a woman named Dawn, survives a plane crash and has some kind of moment and rather than returning to Boston to be with her husband and daughter, she jumps on a plane and goes back to Egypt to met her previous lover. 

In typical Picoult fashion the book flips back and forth, telling several stories from the past and current day. We find out that Dawn is a Death Duola, her marriage is on the rocks and has a daughter who is shy and struggles with her weight. 

The Death Duola portions were the most interesting part of the book and I wish that it had taken a larger portion of the story as opposed to Egyptology. As the Death Doula is more interesting, makers her  character is more likable and is probably more relatable to readers. 

The ending was not satisfying to me as a reader but I understand it. I am glad that I read this book because I have enjoyed so many of Picoult's other reads and am a long time fan but I would not recommend it to a first time reader of Picoult's.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Abused: Surviving Sexual Assault and a Toxic Gymnastics Culture by Rachel Haines

Rachel Haines is a survivor. This is her story as an elite gymnast and the abuse her and other gymnast endure and endured (sexually).

This book chronicles her life as a gymnast from the time she first entered the gym until her last event. She discusses the toxic culture and need to be thin, perfect and continue on despite the pain the body is under in order to get that next title.

Haines focuses on the gymnastic side of things, the competitions and the meets and while interesting enough it didn't fully hold my attention, mainly because I didn't know the main difference all of them.

She also focus's on her spinal injury and what she did to push through the pain and continue on.

I feel as though something was missing and left unsaid. I felt as though I was being told her story  by someone else rather then reading her story told by her.

If It Bleeds Book by Stephen King

This collection of Novella's will leave you aching for more! The characters are vivid, the stories stay with you long after you've finished reading. It's nearly hypnotic.

If It Bleeds is a collection of four short stories. All vastly different from one another and enjoyable. A collection you won't want to miss out on.


Mr. Harrigan's Phone: Craig introduces his old neighbor to the iPhone and technology. A sweet relationship between youth and old age develops along with a love for technology with an underling fear of it.

Life of Chuck: This is a story about Chuck told in reverse chronological order. It's an interesting way of telling a story adding to the creepy factor.

If It Bleeds: Is a continuation of Bill Hodges (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch) and The Outsider.  It starts off strong, the middle is a bit bumpy and the end left me unsatisfied but I am not a huge fan of this story line to begin with so take my feelings on this with a grain of salt.

Rat: This story gave me goosebumps (I am afraid of rats). It has aspects of The Shinning, The Stand and Dream Catcher all in one. It's about a writer who has difficulties getting his words and thoughts on paper and having his books come to fruition. He seeks solitude in a cabin and respite from the real world to write but things go array.