jkjoy_books's reviews
1615 reviews

Who Killed Anne-Marie? by C.M. Thompson

4.0

 The spotlight is put mainly on the weird events that happen, bringing about the death of a critical figure in society. On the other hand, Daniel has to solve the riddle that comes up after Anne-Marie’s death. The lingering question persists: Who is to blame? The tension is held to the very end with a gratifying outcome. I would recommend it!

I want to thank Bloodhound Books for allowing me to read and review this book. 

Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson

4.0

 Ginny Masters devoted her days to running a top-end hotel in Seattle, the hotel which brought her success but deprived her of any other kind of happiness. Jacquelyn had a dream of managing a five-star resort rather than her grandfather’s decrepit fishing lodge.

Driven by a desire for change, the two women informally traded jobs for 60 days – Ginny did the fishing lodge while Jacquelyn did the hotel, without disclosing certain details about their previous performances.

Ginny found that she is able to adjust to her new rhythm of life and duties she had to perform, and understood that life is not all work. It is in this that the novel appeals – with the growth of Ginny and the blossoming romances for both women.

The end was a bit flat, but the book is hard to put down – Ginny’s change is incredibly interesting. I highly recommend this book to all romance book lovers!

I want to thank Revell and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher

3.0

 The beginning of Good Half Gone is set on an interesting premise that takes your attention almost in one second. Nonetheless, as you go further into the narrative, you spot the flaws in the way it was carried out.

The pace of the narrative needs to be addressed. The sum of my troubles was the time spent on details that, although intriguing, do not add a lot to the plot or the characters. Such digressions from the primary storyline annoy and alienate the reader from the narrative.

The second area to be improved is the character development, mainly the protagonist – Iris. She is a character that is played on by her past and her insatiable craving for closure. However, her personality could use more layering, with her reasons sometimes needing to be stated clearly. The absence of clarity results in the dissociation of the reader with Iris, which prevents one from being able to fully comprehend her pain and her quest.

The story location, Shoal Island Hospital, is designed to give the plot an element of suspense and mystery. Nevertheless, the mystery is disclosed in an obvious manner and so the suspense is lost, leaving the reader unimpressed.

Although the beginning is quite promising, the novel does not fully live up to what is expected. The plot needs a more interesting twist and revelation of secrets while the character development needs to be improved in the narrative. The novel leaves the reader with an average reading experience which is not fully satisfying as more depth and complexity from the story and its characters is missed.

Thank you to HTP (Harlequin Trade Publishing), Graydon House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Godmother by Jane E. James

4.5

 This psychological thriller deals with the perspectives of best friends Maddie and Zoe, who are not only friends but also go through layers of relationships and personal issues. Maddie is troubled with problems in her marriage and her kid’s safety, and Zoe struggles with the war inside herself. Some of these twists are easy to predict, and others can be a surprise. The storytelling style with a touch of suspense keeps you engrossed and wondering about the characters’ choices. For fans of multi-layered domestic dramas. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Joffe Books, ZooLoosBt, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

Don't Let Her In by Joanne Ryan

4.5

 When Lena moves into her new home on idyllic Mandalay Close, she’s seeking a fresh start after heartbreak. But her hope for a peaceful new life is quickly shattered when mysterious letters appear on her neighbors’ doorsteps, threatening to expose their most private secrets.

As tensions mount in the once-quiet cul-de-sac, Lena watches in dismay as the community descends into chaos. Yet amidst the confusion, her house remains curiously untouched.

I was captivated from the very beginning. It was fast-paced, and the twists were fantastic throughout. The end left me flabbergasted. I enjoyed this very much and highly recommend it to all psychological thriller lovers!

Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Garden Party by Wendy Clarke

5.0

 

This psychological thriller starts with Rachel and her husband, Owen, relocating into a new neighborhood, where the residents are primarily friendly at face value. Yet, dark secrets reveal themselves behind the village’s mask as the story develops.

The crucial moment occurs when Rachel observes Phillipa verbally abusing and neglecting her young daughter Lexi at the welcome party. Lexi almost fell into a pond, and Phillipa did not give a damn. Rachel is triggered by her trauma of being told that she might never be able to have children. She gets obsessed with rescuing Lexi from her carefree mother.

On the other hand, although she shows her husband that she will put the past behind her, Rachel concludes that Philippa is not worthy of becoming a mother. Her goal is to make friends with Philippa and get close to Lexi, willing “to do anything.” This drives the plot with tension and mystery.

Maternal instinct is a recurring theme in the narrative. She desires to be accepted in the new community, but the child’s safety takes precedence. Her complicated motives make the reader ponder how far she will be between this dangerous mother-and-daughter duo.

This book will catch the reader from the beginning, when masks start falling, and secrets await just around the corner, ready to destroy the town’s polished façade. It will appeal to the readers of character-focused thrillers exploring shades of grey between good and evil under the pressure of primal instincts. I highly recommend this book; it is a fascinating psychological thriller!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Perfect Friend by J.V. Cardy

4.0

 A friend or a friend that was lost revives an unwelcome memory of a squandered friendship. Lou and Anna were the best of friends once. They have a secret from their past. How far will they want to leave the past dead? In this spellbinding and near-lethal novel, J. V. Cardy adroitly turns a classic childhood friend trope. Most were major shocks that suddenly directed the plot in totally unforeseen ways. This suspenseful novel is gripping, entertaining, and original.

Thank you to Zoé from ZooLoo’s Book Tours and the author for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Lost Girl by Mark Gillespie

3.5

 “The Lost Girl” is a riveting suspense that had me gripped from start to finish as it followed a young girl called Darcy who returns to her family after disappearing as a child 13 years ago. What hurts her joyful homecoming is unsolved questions about her strange absence – where has she been all these years and how did she get away from there at last?

The writing is very artful in creating tension through the changing character perspectives and also colorful descriptions.

Yet, some plot developments towards the end of the book cause the reader to doubt. Without revealing anything, some specifics about Darcy’s vanishing look like they should have been found with a bit of scrutiny. Sometimes, the absence of basic police procedures is glaring.

However, this is a highly absorbing and gripping thriller if you can overlook some of the more unlikely turns.

Thank you to Zoé from ZooLoo’s Book Tours and the author for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Anchorman's Wife by Joseph Souza

4.0

 The thriller heads strangely straight from the beginning and the reader is thrown into a very complicated mystery. The tone of the anchorman’s wife’s head injury in a violent attack is very suspicious. While the story unfolds, it is harder to determine whom to believe, tension and confusion escalate. I do not like to reveal any details about the plot that might spoil the surprises in the story. Only, therefore, the twists and particularly misdirections set the reader guessing as the clues are unfolded one by one. Even if you can predict the outcome, the fall of this riddle shall be really interesting. For lovers of thrillers who like to solve a labyrinth-like plot, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the author and Booksirens for allowing me to read and review this book. 

How to Commit the Perfect Murder in Ten Easy Steps by Jessica Huntley

5.0

 

The most recent book by Jessica was a real page-turner, containing a lot of unexpected twists and turns that simply captivated me from the very first chapter. She is good at creating interesting mystery puzzles that will puzzle the reader along the story. As soon as I believed I had identified the perpetrator, she would introduce another turn of events that made my conclusion questionable.

In the last engrossing chapters, the puzzle did click and I was dumbfounded with how many clever plot points I had missed.

I still love Jessica as a thriller author, she is a favorite of mine. She is the best in complex, addictive storytelling and leaving the readers clueless. Her latest novel and all her books should be added to the reading list of all lovers of thrillers. I highly recommend “How to Commit the Perfect Murder in Ten Easy Steps”, an awesome read!

Thank you to the author and Booksirens for allowing me to read and review this book.