He Started It by Samantha Downing

 

About the book:

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven't all been together in years. And for very good reasons—we'll get to those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish and—more importantly—secure their inheritance. But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone. It's even harder when you're all keeping secrets and trying to forget a memory, a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won't stop following your car—and especially when at least one of you is a killer and there's a body in the trunk. Just to name a few reasons. But money is a powerful motivator. It is for everyone.

 My Thoughts

So you say there is a new Samantha Downing book? I say...give it to me now! I couldn't wait for her latest book. My Lovely Wife was one of the best books I have read in 2019! If you have not read it yet, GO NOW...do it, just read it!

Ready for the road trip from hell? You think your family is dysfunctional and the road trips leave a bit to be desired?  HAHAHA you haven't seen anything yet. This is no Chevy Chase Family Vacation...this is the grandpa road show. Grandpa made them do it for the millions. Yes, millions of dollars that he left them in the will. Only stipulation? The 3 siblings must recreate the road trip they did as children with good old Gramps. Sounds easy right? Just don't  break the rules...if you break the rules you are out...which means more for the others! Hmmm... this could get really interesting.

This was a thrill ride right from the start for me. I loved the road trip with all the tension and the creep factor. Staying in seedy little motels on the side of the road. Dealing with less than desirable folks along the way. Reliving the "good old days" of the past road trip.......not!! Who would you kill and how was one of gramps favorite road trip games....Just saying...


This ending was spectacular! Let's just say I never saw it coming in a million years. I am going to bet you won't either. I absolutely loved My Lovely Wife and this one is just as good. Samantha Downing is defiantly on my must read list and has quickly become one of my very favorite authors.

 

Samantha Downing currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away at her next thrilling novel.

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay

Have you ever experienced such a loss that it literally takes a piece of you with it? It is such a profound loss that a piece of your very soul goes along with it and you never quite feel the same? You go on through life, you manage to be successful, yet there is still a piece of your happiness that you just can't get back? Well this is exactly what happened to Chelsea Martin.

After losing her mother to cancer while in her early 20's Chelsea threw herself into her career. She became a rising star in the nonprofit world, raising money for cancer. This girl was a superstar at her job. Yet her job was all that she had. One day it occurs to her that her "happy" is gone. She wants to get her mojo back but isn't sure how. So she decides to head back to where she last was happy and carefree right before the loss of her mother. She had been "finding herself after college" in Ireland, Paris and Italy. So off she went to find her happiness again.

Okay there Chelsea, first off- you can't go back home or so they say. I was highly doubtful that she could turn back the clock and find her happy by doing so. Yet it was highly entertaining watching her do so. Stalking- I mean finding her old boyfriends...learning how to use a stripper pole...among other things.

The part I enjoyed the most was her "relationship" with her co-worker Jason. I loved their snarky banter that left me laughing. It reminded me a bit of The Hating Game type of snarky coworker, love-hate. Highly entertaining and I really loved the chapters when he tried to worm his annoying way into her business. He was her Goose to her Maverick. Will she find her happy? Will she get her mojo back? All while trying to land a 10 million dollar deal? I loved Chelsea even though she made she bad decisions....cow pjs in front of your coworkers anyone? Go Chelsea find your mojo girl! I am cheering you on!

This was the perfect little rom-com escape and I loved it. Thank you so much to Berkley for providing me with this ARC for an honest review.  I hope you all love it too!

How to Save a Life by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

I have never met a Liz and Lisa book I didn't like and this one is no exception. Although I must say this one did seem a bit "deeper" and managed to evoke a few tears from me. I must admit I was a little skeptical about this "groundhog" day premise, but it did work. It got the message across and kept me glued to the pages.

Dom broke things off with Mia ten years ago. As they have both gone their separate ways, Dom thinks about Mia...every...single ...day...In fact he talks about her so much that his family and friends thinks he is obsessed with her. I must agree. Yet, I think that Dom is not entirely happy with his life and he thinks that Mia is the thing that would have made his whole life perfect. I think many of us do that. You think to yourself- well if I had done this in life, my life would be perfect. When in fact it may be just the same. SO I got you Dom, I understand.

Then ten years later, by chance Dom runs into Mia on the street. Do they have a chance to live happily ever after? It is as if the universe wants a say in this as Dom is forced to relive Mia's death- over and over again. OMG my heart broke each time for Dom. I just kept holding out hope that Dom can change the outcome...just one time...

Will Dom get his happily ever after? Will Mia make it to see another day? Can Dom literally save a life? I loved this book even though it tore my heart out many times! As for the title...well it is perfect! Not only do I LOVE this song by The Fray...it fit in perfectly with this book. Although, I am going to be singing this to myself for weeks to come...thanks Liz and Lisa...HAHAHAHA...at least I love the song.

Huge shoutout to Lake Union Publishing for sending me a finished copy of this gorgeous book for a honest review. I loved it! Pub date is 7/14/2020

The Sunday Girl by Pip Drysdale

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

Yes! Now this is a fantastic little domestic thriller. Whew, this was a wild ride right from the first page. Taylor- our "Sunday girl" had bad taste in men. Angus her long time boyfriend ( aka F@#$ Head) as Taylor's BFF nicknamed him, was proof of that. He was all kinds of special........womanizer, drug user, abusive, just an all around scum of the earth. Yet Taylor dug him...until she didn't.

After all this that she had put up with, what was the final straw? A sex tape of her uploaded to the internet...oh Angus, what have you done?! Taylor is about to unleash her good girl gone crazy when she plots revenge.

Wow, this book is just my kind of thriller. I love a good revenge story. It actually gave me a great deal of angst waiting for the other shoe to drop. Taylor had some fantastic and entertaining revenge ideas...I mean of course they were wrong, so very wrong. HAHAHA but still I had to think...yeah Taylor you go...The thing is two can play at this game...so who will be the winner? This was a solid 5 star all the way until the end. I did expect just a little bit more cray at the end, hence the .5 star off. Yet, obviously I loved it!

I can hardly believe this is a debut! I seriously can't wait to get my hands on her next book!  A huge shout out to Melody of @ohthebooksshewillread on Instagram for my giveaway copy and of course Sourcebooks Landmark. Thanks Pip Drysdale for entertaining me with this wicked little tale of revenge is sweet.