The Killer Instinct by Kate Wiley | Review

The Killer Instinct by Kate Wiley (#3 - Detective Margot Phalen Series)
Genre(s): Thriller, Mystery
Release Date: October 28th, 2024
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Pages: 311
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Spice: No Spice 🚫

Wow. This was such a great read. My heart was in my throat. Margot Phalen, is a homicide detective. She is also the daughter of a serial killer. While investigating criminal cases, she finds herself in front of her father, a man she detests. 

Margot finds herself drawn into the mind games trying to separate her past from the cases she is trying to solve. I really hope there is another novel in this series. I cannot wait to read it. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Remember Me by Nelle L’Amour | Review

 Thank you to Author Nelle L’Amour and Nichols Canyon Press for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion and review.  

Remember Me by Nelle L’Amour
Genre(s): Romance
Release Date: October 24th, 2024
Publisher: Nichols Canyon Press
Pages: 351
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: Sweet 🌶️ 

Plot Synopsis via GoodReads:

Investigative reporter, Skye Collins, is determined to expose the story that will blow Hollywood apart. But when she digs too deep, she literally digs her own grave. Her car careens off a cliff and explodes. Skye is killed instantly, and her sensational, tell-all story is buried with her. Was it an accident… or murder? Did someone want Skye dead? Skye’s husband Finn, a struggling artist, tops the list of suspects. But Finn goes free, and his wife’s tragic death remains a mystery.

Five years later, Finn, now a successful painter, hires a live-in governess to homeschool his young daughter, Maddie. Scarlet is perfect —caring, a brilliant teacher, and Maddie adores her. Finn finds himself drawn to his attractive employee even as she keeps her distance. Because Scarlet is hiding a deadly secret. She knows the shocking truth about what happened to Finn’s late wife. And this truth may cost Scarlet her life too.

Review:

This is the first book I have read by Nelle L’Amour but I will definitely be reading more. I could not put this one down! Revenge may be sweet, but love is even more sweet. I fell in love with the main characters right from their beginning. 

The story elicited really strong emotions with many references to SA and overcoming tragic life events. However, the ending was super satisfying.

The Housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil | Review

 

The Housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil
Genre(s): Psychological Thriller
Release Date: May 25th, 2021
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 296
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Spice: No Spice 🚫

Highwood Hall is full of secrets, including hidden rooms and secret tunnels. Ruby is hired as a new maid at Highwood. Ruby’s mother was also a maid at Highwood, but then she disappeared. With only the clues from her mother’s journals, Ruby takes the job with the sole intent of uncovering the truth behind her mother’s disappearance. Who can she trust? The answer is NO ONE. This is a fantastically crafted story. There are so many hidden secrets to this house, almost like the house itself has so much personality. I was drawn in right from the beginning with the simmering undertones of danger that were laced throughout the book. I highly recommend this thriller!

Fix Me When I Fall by Zoe Forward | Review

Thank you to Hidden Gems and author Zoe Forward for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion and review.  

Fix Me When I Fall by Zoe Forward
Genre(s): Romance
Release Date: September 23rd, 2024
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 341
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Spice: Steamy 🌶️🌶️

Mackenzie “Kenzie” Parker’s job is to overhaul the failing careers of Hollywood stars. Her past comes back to haunt her when she is asked to help fix a new PR nightmare, in the form of her childhood crush, Ryan Brandt. In her profession, Kenzie embodies a confident and capable woman. She has developed a reputation in the industry; everyone respects her and wants to work with her. Ryan Brandt re-entering her life presents a challenge. He needs her to help fix his career, but he wants so much more from her. 

Kenzie is really good at fixing other people’s problems and helping them live their best lives but neglects her own. I enjoyed seeing the Kenzie let down her guard, let love in, and fight for what she really wants. The relationship between Kenzie and Ryan comes across as really caring and genuine. I would love to read more stories about these two! 

The Hanging of Hattie Gale by Tess Burnett | Review

 Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion and review.  

The Hanging of Hattie Gale by Tess Burnett
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Release Date: October 7th, 2024
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Pages: 326
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Spice: Sweet 🌶️ 

I finished this book more than a week ago but I’ve been trying to think of how to describe how intricate and detailed this book was. I haven’t read a book like this in some time. The author took their time connecting all of the pieces of the story. The details were interwoven with perfection!

The story of Hettie Gale is a historical fiction story taking place simultaneously in modern day and 28th century England. In the beginning, we are introduced to Alice who has come to search for her missing cousin at their childhood cottage in a small town in England. We are introduced to the story of Hettie Gale, a young woman living in the 18th century, she endures abuse and abandonment from a young age and is left to fend for herself and her young child. Although, she experiences some kindness from neighbours, her life is hard and she abandoned and neglected by her family. Hettie’s life is cut short when she is falsely accused of murdering her child. The novel has a supernatural element as the main character uncovers the truth about Hettie Gale; her family’s secrets, the injustice she faced, and uncovering the truth of what really happened that day. 

My favourite part was when Alice was reading the journals passed down by the mistresses who lived in a local house. I loved hearing bits of their stories and the clues they revealed that allowed Alice to investigate her cousins disappearance. I really enjoyed this novel!

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella | Review

Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
Genre(s): Romance
Release Date: October 8th, 2024
Publisher: The Dial Press
Pages: 144
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Spice: Sweet 🌶️ 

Eve is living her best life as a wife, mother, and successful writer to… until she’s not. Faced with an incurable cancer, Eve wakes up confused and scared. Where is she? What happened to her? She doesn’t remember, even though her family tells her every day. 

This story was gut wrenching and gave me the feels. It was heart breaking to see Eve in shock as she struggled to remember, struggled to understand and then worried about the reality of her situation and the impact on her young family. A very sad read, but it was interesting from the very beginning. Make sure to read the author’s note at the end.

Stranger at the Door by A.J. Wills | Review

 

Stranger at the Door by A.J. Wills
Genre(s): Thriller
Release Date: October 15th, 2024
Publisher: Cherry Tree Publishing
Pages: 349
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Spice: No Spice 🚫

I really enjoyed this fast paced novel from A.J. Wills. When Gwen becomes the victim in a hit and run, her husband Harvey thinks it wasn’t an accident. Then Gwyneth’s long lost mother-sister arrives out of the blue. Who is this woman?

I loved that there were two mini stories intertwined in one novel. It really added to the elements of mystery as there were so many more twists leading to the ending. I did wish there was more backstory into Gwyneth and Freya’s childhood and what caused the incident in their childhood when Freya attacked her. I felt like it was such an explosive reaction that should have been caused by more than just favouritism. Overall, a really great read. I’m definitely going to be adding more novels from this author on my TBR shelf!

Thank you to NetGalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion and review.