Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Love at first sight? Well maybe. Tate can't help being swept off her feet when she meets a fellow American while on a trip to London. Tate has barely turned eighteen when she meets Sam who is twenty one. Tate finds herself completely enamored with him and he with her. Or so she thinks....until he screws her over!

Fast forward fourteen years and alot and I mean alot has changed. Tate is no longer the naive little girl hanging out with Nana Jude. Tate is assertive, successful and famous. There is nobody that can bring Tate down...until "he" walks through the door. Sam can still bring her to her knees, even after he betrayed her.

I loved, loved, loved this story. I am seeing alot of mixed reviews on this one. Put me down for the " I love this one team!" I have read two previous Christina Lauren books in the past and found them to be a little more silly and lighthearted. This one has a bit more depth to it in my opinion and personally I liked it more than the others. I enjoyed the others as well, but this one grasped me more and pulled me into the story more. I felt like I connected more with the characters and had empathy for them.

I was soooo flipping angry at Sam I couldn't see straight. I wondered how on earth Tate would deal with her emotions if she ever saw him again. I could feel Tate's pain as she thought she had been used by Sam when she was head over heels in love.

Fantastic, entertaining enduring story of young love, betrayal and finding yourself. I loved this story and can't wait for this duo's next one!!

Thank you so much to Gallery Books for this ARC via Netgalley!

The Lingering by S.J.I. Holliday

Creepy, atmospheric read for October? Yessss please! I have had this book on my kindle for so long just waiting for the perfect time to read it, now is the time!  Bodies of water that feel like they are pulling you down, trying to smother and drown you...cold flashes....glimpses of ghosts...wet footsteps when nobody is around to leave them...things that go bump in the night...yep this is my kind of book.

Would you live in a former asylum? One that served as a psychiatric hospital that practiced "questionable practices?"  A big stately building that is gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside the walls hold all kinds of secrets? Nope, not this girl, not staying one single night in that place.


The Rosalind House is a commune that is very selective in their residents. A collection of quite a eccentric group of people that are looking to leave the real world behind. To shut out all the stress of their past lives and immerse themselves and "embrace the light." They are extensively vetted to make sure they are the right fit. Except for the newest residents Ali and Jack.  Well, well, well...what do we have here?! A great story in the making....

This is my first Susi Holliday book I have read, I must say I love her writing style. She spun such a creepy, ghostly atmospheric story she managed to creep me out. The people in the town gossip that the Rosalind House is haunted and I have to agree! It took me all the way until the end to realize what the title was referring to and it is the perfect title for this book! The cover is not only amazing but fits this story to the tee. Loved it and looking forward to more from Susi Holliday!!

Little Siberia by Antti Tuomainen

 A man with dark thoughts on his mind is racing along the remote snowy roads of Hurmevaara in Finland, when there is flash in the sky and something crashes into the car. That something turns about to be a highly valuable meteorite. With euro signs lighting up the eyes of the locals, the unexpected treasure is temporarily placed in a neighbourhood museum, under the watchful eye of a priest named Joel.

But Joel has a lot more on his mind than simply protecting the riches that have apparently rained down from heaven. His wife has just revealed that she is pregnant. Unfortunately, Joel has strong reason to think the baby isn’t his.

As Joel tries to fend off repeated and bungled attempts to steal the meteorite, he must also come to terms with his own situation, and discover who the father of the baby really is.

 My Thoughts

Picture this...you are driving along minding your own business...along a snowy road, going about 240 km/hr (149 mph). Taking swigs of warm Koskenkorva vodka and contemplating life. How did you get to this point in your life where you are no longer a rally driver even though that is your identity? Then a meteorite falls from the sky, rips through the roof of your car and smack dab lands on the seat next  to you. Whatttt??? What in hell did I just read?

I have been wanting to read something by Antti Tuomainen for ages and I could not say yes fast enough when I got an invitation from Anne Carter to be on this blog tour. This book was an entertaining crime drama that was filled with dark, sarcastic and gritty humor.

As word is spread across the world about this spectacular meteorite that has landed on the passenger seat in a car in Finland, it becomes clear it must be transferred to a secure location. It is speculated that the meteorite is worth million of dollars. So what do we do with it in the meantime? We leave it in a tiny museum in the village with a pastor named Joel to protect it. Joel alone is going to keep the Russian mobsters and everyone else in the world from stealing this precious piece of rock.

Sounds absolutely crazy right?! Yet Antti Tuomainen somehow has the ability to pull you in and make you believe this is perfectly rationale that this is all happening. I found myself yelling yeah Joel you get them!

Maybe even more intriguing than the mobsters and various others after their piece of the pie with the meteorite, was Joel himself. I was completely drawn into Joel's personality as he had me curious as to how a pastor got involved in this. He seemed a bit "street smart" shall we say. I began to question his past and his motives. He  is expecting his first child with his wife Krista and yet, he was told he can't have kids.....so whose child is it? I found myself thinking, well hell we have a meteorite falling from the sky, could this be immaculate conception? I couldn't imagine his loving wife cheating on him. Especially in such a small village where he is the sole person that people confess to!

This book was much darker than I expected and I loved it. When I least expected it the author would throw in a humorous line and catch me off guard. A mysterious story filled with crime, mobsters, family drama and a touch of humor this book had me flipping the pages late into the night!

Thank you so much to Anne Carter inviting me along on this fantastic blog tour!

 

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for ‘Best Finnish Crime Novel of 2011’ and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. Two years later, in 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died (2017) became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’.

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

 

You know that friend that you go years without contact, yet you are so comfortable that you pick right up where you left off? Well that is me with Becky Brandon (Bloomwood). This girl has seen me through some hard times! I have missed Becky and her outgoing, quirky, sometimes socially unacceptable  personality. I was so excited to see a new Shopaholic book and a Christmas one at that!

So for those of you who don't know Becky- there is a whole series, except this is a perfect stand alone. No need to read the previous books, except you will want to after you read this! I think I read my first Shopaholic book in 2000. Honestly I completely forgot about the series since I have not read any in years, this was literally like going back in time. Very nostalgic, it was like indulging in some comfort food for the soul.

Back to Becky! This girl is like a Bridget Jones with more fashion style and an addiction to shopping. Becky believes in buying everything in excess, no matter what it is. Why order one turkey when you can order three- just in case...in case what I don't know, but this is how Becky rolls.

When Becky is nominated by the family to host Christmas, it throws her into a buying frenzy. As always the crazy antics continue...she loves to send random letters and the responses are always hilarious. From 30 lbs of frozen salmon on the front lawn, to getting locked in a pet store with loose hamsters- Becky never disappoints. Fingers crossed for another Becky book soon!!

Thank you so much to the publisher Random House for this adorable, fun ARC! Thanks so much for Sophie Kinsella for turning out another great Shopaholic book! We love Becky!!!

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

I know...I am really late to the party on this one. Better late than never right?! What in the actual hell is going on at The Bartholomew? For the next 3 months this is home.........12A...home, hell, you decide!

Seriously, people there is some crazy stuff going on here. This was my second book by Sager (Final Girls is here begging to be read) and he is a master of atmospheric writing. Last time he took me to camp but this time we were on a dream trip to Manhattan! Not only Manhattan but the most prestigious building in the city- The Bartholomew.

I don't really know how to explain it, but this book really creeped me out. It was the perfect kick off for October for me as it just "felt" like a fall read. I can honestly say I had a feeling of anxiety the entire time I was reading this - it was like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop..and then it did. What a weird, twisted ending! Good thing I like weird and twisted endings! I was a very happy reader as I closed up this book. Enough about me, let's get on to this book!


Jules Larsen is having a bad week. She found out her live in boyfriend is cheating on her, she lost her job and she essentially had to move out of her apartment. So how lucky was it when she stumbled on an ad for an apartment sitter in Manhattan? What a lucky girl she is........until she is not....well I have heard of money making the world go around but wow! Wait until you meet the likes of the residents of The Bartholomew. It is almost like you need to be born into that building. It is so prestigious that it is hard to even buy an apartment there, it usually needs to be "willed" to you.

As Jules  starts to feel isolated by the "rules" of the building- no visitors, no nights spent away from the building. She finds herself looking to the fellow residents for some human interaction. Good thing she has a gorgeous, friendly doctor living right next door. Is it just the isolation that is getting to her and she is slowly losing it? Or are the rumors true? Perhaps Jules will never get to leave?

I loved so much about this book...but especially the history of The Bartholomew had me riveted. It had a gothic feel and I wondered what kind of dark creepy stuff had really taken place between those walls. Were the residents just private because they were rich and entitled? Sooooo creepy but the details drew me in and would not let go. I never in a million years would have foreseen the ending of this book. Some things you can't keep out, even if you do lock every door!

Thank you so much to Peguin / Dutton for this ARC!