[34] Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense, heard about from Carolyn, audio
Synopsis: On the morning she’s set to return to work after maternity leave, Camilla wakes to find her husband missing and a mysterious note in his place. As news breaks of a hostage situation in London, police arrive at her door with a shocking revelation: her husband isn’t a victim – he’s the gunman.
Review: This is such an interesting premise and well-written, but it was painfully slow. It didn’t really pick up until the last 10%, and even then, the climax of the story was rushed and not explained well. It felt like it wanted to be a character story, but still felt very surface level. And I was annoyed with the parts that were predictable and the with the part of the story that wasn’t predictable and I felt like parts of it should be laid out for me. So… this is obviously not the book for me or the reading mood I am in.
Recommend? No
[35] Wyatt (Lucky River Ranch, #2) by Jessica Peterson
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, second in series, Kindle
Synopsis: While waiting for her dream job to start in New York, Sally returns to her small Texas hometown hoping for a no-strings fling – and her best friend Wyatt, a charming cowboy Casanova, seems like the perfect teacher. Their fake flirting quickly turns real, but with Sally’s move to New York looming and her dad pushing her to chase the dream he never could, their growing feelings might not be enough to change what’s coming.
Review: This was good, and I enjoyed it… but it was not as good as the first one, and some of it was hella cheesy. And the best friends to lovers trope where they just can’t imagine the other person possibly having feelings? Meh, not typically for me, depending on how long that charade goes on. Granted, it didn’t for too long in this book, which I appreciated!
Recommend? Nah
[36] The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Fiction / Humorous / Dark Humor, second in series, audio
Synopsis: When Phoebe Stone checks into the elegant Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, she’s mistaken for a wedding guest – though she’s the only one not there for the festivities. She came alone, to kill herself. As the carefully planned wedding weekend unfolds, Phoebe unexpectedly bonds with the bride and members of the wedding party, and these connections brings surprises no one saw coming.
Review: What a brilliant, beautiful book. I was hooked from the start. It’s a thoughtful character study filled with sharp insights on human behavior that will stay with me for months. And beyond the introspection, there’s a compelling plot. The story unfolds over the course of a wedding week, as Phoebe slowly becomes part of the celebration and, in the process, rediscovers herself and what she truly wants. At its heart, this book is about choosing the life you want to live.
Recommend? Absolutely yes
