Novel but Nice

Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars The last 40% of this book is mind-blowing—I had to go back and reread passages to make sure I read what I thought I did!!! This is my first book by Charlie Donlea, and what a fantastic introduction to this author!!! This book already drew me in with the premise, but the writing and the way the story was executed kept me engaged until the very last page. This is a book that is fueled by the plot. Some thrillers take place mostly in the minds of the characters, but this book is action driven. There are no slow points—every single chapter is moving you towards the shocking conclusion. You’ll want to pay attention, because a LOT happens in this book! 10 years ago Grace Sebold was convicted of murdering her boyfriend… Grace’s life was on the right track. Grace recently found out she was accepted in the medical residency she wanted in NYC with her boyfriend Julian, who is unbeknownst to her about to ...

Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman My rating: 5 of 5 stars A slow build to a shocking discovery, this book will have you wondering what you would do!!! What an incredible debut novel this is for Catherine Steadman! While the book starts with a bang, the next 30% is a slow build as you get to know the characters. Then at about 35% the story takes a turn and readers will find themselves holding on for the ride, unsure of where they’ll end up!!! I was unsure about this book at first, but I have to say I ended up really enjoying it and found it to be a tantalizing premise for a story. I don’t even know what I’d compare this book to… Its really quite unique from other psychological thrillers, though I’m sure some comparisons (Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins) are bound to come up. I don’t want to make those though because I don’t think readers should go into this book expecting something similar to what they’ve already read. Enjoy this one on it’s own merit! Eri...

Every Single Secret by Emily Carpenter My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is one twisty-WTF--suspense novel that is full of secrets and will have you questioning everything!!! Emily Carpenter is a new-to-me author and I’m so glad I was given an opportunity to read and review this book! This was a Traveling Sisters read and though everyone had a slightly different take on it, we all felt the ending was a WOW moment! This book takes a few chapters to get into, because the character dynamics are untraditional. But once you’re in, prepare to be questioning everything and everyone in a slow-building suspense novel with a thrilling conclusion! Daphne has finally found her own person to call her family… Daphne was raised in foster homes and a girls’ ranch, and has had no family to speak of her whole life. But Daphne is a survivor—strong and intelligent, and scrappy as all-get-out. When she met Heath, she instantly knew she had found her partner. Heath and Daphne fell ha...

The Wife Between Us: A Novel by Greer Hendricks My rating: 4 of 5 stars Twisty-turny the whole way through!!! This one will have your head spinning in the most delightful way!!! Well, I am LATE to the party on this one, fellow readers! I feel like the last person on earth to read this book, but it was calling to me from my pile beside my desk and I just had to take a break from review copies. I'm so glad I did! You always wonder if it is possible for the book to live up to the hype, but this one definitely did!! There's a reason it is a best seller. Vanessa is trying to rebuild her life --her marriage has ended and she is living with her Aunt. Vanessa is broken. Her husband left her for another woman. And though she knew that he was seeing her, she never imagined it would go this far. Now he is set to marry her, and Vanessa will not let that happen! Nellie is happily engaged --her fiance is a true prince charming. Nellie feels so lucky to have me...

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris My rating: 5 of 5 stars Unsettling in the best possible way!!! Does anyone put the “psychology” into psychological thriller quite as well as B. A. Paris??? Paris really has a way with messed up characters and disturbing situations. This book is a mind game from the first chapter right through the very last page. I finished this book two days ago and the story is haunting me! What a great read! As happens with Paris, early reviews are largely positive, with a mix of “did-not-finish”. Most of those seem to struggle connecting with the characters. I urge readers to give this book time! You don’t always have to like all of the characters to enjoy the ride. And I think some characters will ultimately surprise you—all are not telling the full story right away, which made the development points for each character so compelling. This is a book that grows in suspense and makes you uneasy, right along with the characters. 12 years ago Finn is...

The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen My rating: 5 of 5 stars A wonderful, psychological thriller that will make you wonder what you would do if this happened to you!!! I am a big fan of Mary Torjussen’s last book Gone Without a Trace . As a psychologist, I always find books that deal with the character’s mindset effectively to be so compelling, and this is an area Mary really excels in as an author. This book was one I read in two days (which, for someone who works full-time and has a dissertation to write is quite an endorsement). The steady building of suspense in this book had the reader feeling slightly off-kilter along with the protagonist—and that is what made it so hard to put down! I found myself skipping my lunch break to read a bit more, and turning down plans for drinks after work because I just had to know what would happen next! Plot Gemma owns her own real estate business and loves her career. She has a wonderful husband and a beautiful son, but...