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Tag: Sam Shephard

Book Review: The Ringmaster

THE RINGMASTER | Vanda Symon (Sam Shephard #2) 04.18.2019 | Orenda Books Rating: 4/5 stars After a disastrous end to a case she was investigating, Sam Shephard has packed her bags and relocated. She is now at the bottom of the detective ranks in the Dunedin police force, but ready to prove her worth. Working … Continue reading Book Review: The Ringmaster →

jess_reads_books Book Reviews 1 Comment April 11, 2019

Book Review: Overkill

OVERKILL | Vanda Symon (Sam Shephard #1) 09.07.2018 | Orenda Books Rating: 4/5 stars Lockie and Gaby Knowes are a happily married couple living a peaceful life with their daughter in a small New Zealand town called Mataura. One day Lockie comes home to find Gaby missing. She has left their daughter alone with a … Continue reading Book Review: Overkill →

jess_reads_books Book Reviews 1 Comment April 3, 2019April 3, 2019

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Book Review: Gretchen July 16, 2019
Book Review: Girls Like Us July 15, 2019
Book Review: Caged July 11, 2019
Weekly Reads: July 10th July 10, 2019
Book Review: A Modern Family July 9, 2019

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Do you love a dark, twisty read? That basically sums up my reading M.O., so when Dennis (@scaredstraightreads) announced this would be the theme for his July #scaredstraightstack challenge, I instantly started a list in my phone’s notes! It got out of hand quick! 😂🙈 • So, I’ve narrowed it down to some absolute favorites! Do you see any favorites? Have any recommendations?! Tell me everything! 🖤 . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #allthebooks #bookaddict #booklover #bookish #instabook #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #igreads #bookworm #booklove #bookpic #bookstagrammademedoit #bookstack #bookpile #readcrimefiction #crimefiction #bookspines #bookthoughts #booksofig #whattoreadnext #bookblogger #readersgonnaread #bookaholics #alwaysreading #readingchallenge

||Book Review|| . Gretchen by Shannon Kirk • All Lucy has ever known is life on the run. Together with her mother, they have hopped from state to state the moment someone gets too close, the moment they heard someone say “you remind me of someone”, the moment they felt eyes linger on them for too long. Lucy has never known the real reason they are on the run. She has never known what drives her mother’s paranoia. • After thirteen years on the run, Lucy and her mother have landed in a town that Lucy feels is perfect. She can see a future here. A chance to go to school and hold a job like a normal teenager. There are a few things less than desirable about their new living situation. Their new home is located in the isolated New Hampshire woods on the outskirts of town. The landlord and his daughter live on the property in a house up the hill. The father is a pianist obsessed with wearing gloves to protect his hands. The daughter, Gretchen, is Lucy’s age and has all the makings of a perfect friend if only she could shake the possessiveness. Lucy is willing to look away from the flaws and fight for a place to call home, but is she denying too much of what is really happening around her? • MINI REVIEW: WOW!! This book truly has everything I look for in crime fiction. There is a likeable narrator struggling through a personal drama, an atmospheric location that sets the stage for dread, and a cast of characters that are hiding so many secrets it’s hard to keep up. Kirk utilizes a split narration to not only build the reader’s knowledge of the past and present, but also hone in on the mystery surrounding our characters. Lucy is such a compelling main character and I love that she is so unaware of the facts that led her life to be the way it is. • Let’s talk Gretchen...what a strange little girl! I’ve never been so fascinated by a non-narrator/main character. From learning about what makes her tick, watching her interactions with Lucy, and sitting front row for all of her crazy shenanigans...holy crap! Gretchen is an amazing character that I won’t be forgetting any time soon! Basically...you need this book ASAP! • 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 • Full review on my blog! Link in profile!

#sponsored | Are you a fan or series reads or do you generally lean more towards stand alone books? • I love a good series, but I’m also known as a serial series abandoner! I’m trying to be must better about that and have plans to hop back onto the Harry Hole and Dark Island series’ this year. • This year I’ve found myself launch a handful of new series reads and Ellison Cooper’s Agent Sayer Altair series has been one of my favorites! • I devoured Caged earlier this month and I’m loving being back with Sayer in Buried! • I just kicked off this one last night, but it’s safe to say I’m hooked! • Want to know more? Synopsis in the comments! . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #allthebooks #bookaddict #booklover #bookish #instabook #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #igreads #bookworm #booklove #bookpic #bookstagrammademedoit #bookstack #bookpile #readcrimefiction #crimefiction #bookspines #bookthoughts #booksofig #whattoreadnext #bookblogger #readersgonnaread #bookaholics #alwaysreading #booksandcoffee #cozy #seriesreads

||Book Review|| {#sponsored} . Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger • FBI Agent Nell Flynn has just received news that her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, has died. Nell makes her way back to the hometown that she has avoided for ten years. A town that is filled with memories of her mother’s brutal murder and a childhood she would rather leave behind. Despite her rocky relationship with her father, Nell must face his death. She must return to her childhood home to settle her father’s estate and spread his ashes. • While in town Nell begins learning details about her father’s last case. He was investigating the murders of two young women, both of which were found in gruesome conditions. Her father’s partner, Detective Lee Davis, convinces Nell to join the investigation as a consultant. As she begins to look further into the murders details about the girls and her father’s possible involvement come to the surface. It seems this town is hiding more than a troubled childhood for Nell. This town has its own secrets and a contingent of people willing to stop at nothing to keep them hidden. • MINI-REVIEW: I love that Alger stays true to what made me love her writing in her previous book. She doesn’t craft the typical unreliable female to narrate her books. Instead she gives the reader these wonderfully flawed, yet strong women who will do anything to get what they are after. Nell is portrayed as a determined, head-strong, and courageous woman looking for answers to two brutal murders. In addition to Nell, Alger gives the reader a handful of intricately formed secondary characters who help to drive home the small town with secrets vibe this story encompasses. The book launches with a slower pace as the reader gets to know Nell and her hometown, then transitions into a much faster pace as more and more clues to the murders come out. I greatly enjoyed GIRLS LIKE US and think it would be a fantastic addition to the TBR of any reader looking for something in the crime fiction genre with a strong female lead and an interesting case! • 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 • Full review up on my blog! Link in profile! . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bibliophile #alwaysreading #bookish

What does your remaining July TBR look like? • So far this month I have been lucky in soaking up plenty of reading time and checking off some fantastic titles from my TBR! • I’m still working through ‘Salem’s Lot and have some bonus material in another copy I’ll be reading next week. I’m also planning to start Buried later today or tomorrow. • For the rest of the month these are my reading hopefuls! I’ve got the perfect mix of new releases and buddy read/book club picks to keep me a happy bookworm! • Are any of these on your TBR? . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #allthebooks #bookaddict #booklover #bookish #instabook #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #igreads #bookworm #booklove #bookpic #bookstagrammademedoit #bookstack #bookpile #readcrimefiction #crimefiction #bookthoughts #booksofig #whattoreadnext #bookblogger #readersgonnaread #bookaholics #alwaysreading #booksbooksbooks #coverlove #tbr

I have been living for the weekend all week! Now that’s it’s finally Friday I’m ready to share with you my big plans...ready? I’m going to plant my butt on the couch and binge the second half of ‘Salem’s Lot! 😂 • Were you expecting something grander? To me this is the perfect Friday night. My summer has been crammed with activities and hanging out. I’m craving a night in! • What are you doing this weekend? . . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #allthebooks #bookaddict #booklover #bookish #instabook #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #igreads #bookworm #booklove #bookpic #bookspines #bookthoughts #booksofig #whattoreadnext #bookblogger #readersgonnaread #bookaholics #alwaysreading #constantreader #stephenking #horrorbooks #promotehorror

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