micasreads's reviews
837 reviews

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

5.0

Jane, not her real name, was brought to the United Kingdom illegally and is now "married" to Lenn and lives on a farm in a very rural area. She keeps his house just like his mother used to and must be at his beck and call at night. Jane, not her real name, has tried to escape and has had her ankle smashed and her possessions burnt to remind her who is in charge. After giving birth to a daughter, she and Lenn's relationship begins to change until he kidnaps the new woman in town. The women and baby must escape and they will do whatever means necessary. 

 

This was a fantastic book. The story kept me engaged from the very first page. Jane, not her real name, is a wonderfully complex character who believes she is helping her sisters by remaining captive to her "husband." There were many times throughout the novel where you just wanted to reach into the story and save her from her life. The ending few chapters are intense. It is rare that a book has my heart racing like this one did. I said "Oh my god" out loud and prayed that the women would escape. The ending was beyond satisfying and left no questions unanswered. This will be a story I think about for a long time and recommend often. 

Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholen

3.0

The Senior Year Scavenger Hunt is always a big deal for incoming seniors at Pritchett High. This year a group of eight friends are chosen to take part in the hunt at the local carnival grounds. The girls are out to have a good time and start their senior year, but someone else has other ideas for their night at the carnival grounds. The lights and rides turn on and off and screams echo in the darkness. One by one, the girls are murdered by someone in a grotesque Halloween mask - the question is who will be the final girl…if there is one? 

 

This was a fun way to finish out my spooky reads for October. I love reading a decent slasher story. The setup was decent and the story was well-told until the murderer explained the reason for their rampage. I was surprised by the killer's identity but found the motive ridiculous. Also, the name the girls gave the murderer made me roll my eyes. I understand the meaning of it but the name itself is childish. This would be a good choice if you are looking for a short slasher book to end your Halloween reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, Murder, and Drug use

The Getaway by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

3.0

 Chloe Powell needs a break and a yoga retreat that is off the grid sounds perfect. Chloe fills out the extremely personal application questions and is on her way. She is met by a driver at the airport who takes her out into a rural area, where she must turn over her phone. The next day she meets her new roommate who leaves her a note in the closet - in her own blood. Chloe begins to realize that something is very wrong at the yoga retreat and it may cost her her life. 

 

Normally anything by Greer and Pekkanen is at least a 4-star read for me but this was a little disappointing. I think the short run time of this novella worked against the quality of the story. These authors need a longer book in order to fully set the mood and flesh out the characters. This is not one of my favorites by this duo. 

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

4.0

 All of Iris Kelly's friends are in loving relationships but after a failed relationship and being the unknown mistress in another, she believes she isn't built for relationships. One night she goes to her favorite queer bars and meets Stevie Scott from across the room. After a failed one-night stand between the two, they meet up again during auditions for a play. They proceed to enter a fake relationship where Iris gets inspiration for her second romance novel while Stevie gets lessons in how to be confident. Two gorgeous queer women in a fake relationship…what could possibly go wrong? 

 Iris Kelly is the friend we all need…always there for her friends and family. She's the friend you wish would think higher of herself. This was a sweet fake relationship story done right. There are such sweet moments between the two women that you can't help but smile. The spice level in this book was off the charts. There is one bedroom scene that shows the sexual tension between the women perfectly. I'm so glad I picked it up and finished this trilogy. 

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

5.0

Britney Spears is known for being the pop princess, being a cast member of the Mickey Mouse Club, and being under the longest conservatorship in U.S. history - 13 years. This is the story that led to her conservatorship, how she fought against it from behind the walls of her prison (aka her home), and how she eventually got out of it. There are stories from her childhood, her well-storied love life, and her downfall. Britney opens up in a way never before seen. She admits to her faults but also shows the strength it took to fight the system keeping her prisoner. 

 

Say what you will about Britney Spears but you can never say she isn't a fighter. She went through a terrible breakdown in front of the world thanks to the paparazzi, lived through her father's tyranny, and came out the other side. She is very open and honest throughout the book  & I loved hearing her side of things. She details her relationship with Justin Timberlake, the experience that he left her to deal with alone, and the way he ended their relationship. She covers her battle with untreated postpartum depression and the way she chose to handle the situations she was going through. I loved this book, and the thought and emotions behind it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion and Emotional abuse

Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh

3.0

When Amanda and Wendy meet at a bereavement group in downtown New York City they form an unexpected friendship. When they meet for drinks one night, they plan the unimaginable. They plan to murder the people who killed their families. When Amanda follows her daughter's killer and realizes that he isn't where he should be, she thinks it's odd - until Wendy calls her and tells her she already kept her part of the deal and now it's Amanda's turn. Amanda's plan doesn't work out at all and she knows she must run. When Amanda meets someone from Wendy's past, she realizes that she is not all she appears to be. 

 

I'm a big fan of Steve Cavanagh but this one seemed a little long for me and didn't keep my attention like his others did. The premise of this book is the same as Strangers on a Train (this is mentioned several times in the book so not a spoiler) with a few more twists. The twists were well-done and unexpected, which is always good. I also enjoy a story with dual timelines that merge at the climax of the story. For me, the story could have been about ten chapters shorter and I would have been satisfied. 

Room for Rent by Noelle W. Ihli, Noelle W. Ihli

4.0

Nya is a young woman going to college without financial support from her parents. She arranges to rent the cheapest room she can find sight unseen from a girl named Sidney - except when she gets there, Sidney is actually a creepy, greasy guy named Sid. With nowhere else to go, she stays despite the fear. Thank goodness she meets Craig at the school bookstore. He always seems to know exactly what she needs exactly when she needs it. On that fateful night when everything comes to a head, Nya will learn that not everything is as it appears. 

 

I have yet to read a bad novel by Noelle W Ihli. She has quickly become one of my must-read authors. There have been some internet lore stories of women being tricked into becoming roommates with creepy men with bad intentions which sound very similar to the premise of this novel. Ihli takes those stories one step further by taking us into the home and making us aware of Nya's nightly tortures such as feeling someone in her room and hearing her doorknob rattle. She does a wonderful job of making ordinary everyday happenings seem outrageous and the outrageous events seem threatening. This was a fun fast-paced read that kept me interested. Although I figured out the who and why early in the story, the ending still took me by surprise and made the reading worthwhile. 

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

4.0

 Charity has a summer job that she loves - she plays the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake where guests pay to take part in being "hunted" by the serial killer feature in the movie for which the camp was named. When she and her team are confronted by a crazy lady with a shotgun, they are forced to shut the camp down early. Suddenly, Charity realizes that they aren't alone and discovers that there were actual murders at Camp Mirror Lake in the 70s. Knowing that they are being stalked, Charity and her friends do all they can to make it out alive. 

 

This was a good little thriller full of campy slasher fun. It had all the elements of a good slasher film - a serial killer hunting those who work at the camp, spooky secrets from the camp's past that come to light, and the chance to be the "final girl." The only difference is the final girl won't be the typical blonde cheerleader because there isn't one to be found in this group of friends. I liked the twist at the end, it adds a little something extra to the story. I thought the narrator did an ok job. It took me about half the recording to get used to her tone of voice. This was a great addition to my October spooky reads. 

The Vessel by Adam L.G. Nevill

3.0

Jess McMahen is a single mom trying to raise her daughter and stay away from her abusive ex. She takes a job as a home health aide to a woman with dementia. She shows up daily to Nerthus House, a dark and gloomy home where her charge sits in a wheelchair all day…until she doesn't. Slowly things begin to happen that make Jess realize that her charge isn't bedridden at all. 

 

This book wasn't what I expected at all. I thought this would be a far spookier story and that I would love it based on the hype around it. The first 3/4 of this book were slow and pretty boring but once I hit the last chapter or two, it picked up significantly. I'm still very unsure how I feel about this book. I will say it was a very long 173 pages but I wasn't expecting the story to end as it did so that was an interesting twist. If you want something different this would be a good choice. 

The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House by Melissa Anderson

3.0

Melissa Anderson is best known as the eldest daughter of Charles and Caroline Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, which ran from 1974-1983. Anderson details the way she was cast as the oldest Ingalls child and how excited she was because she had been such a fan of the books. As the series continues, she details the main storylines she was a part of and how she felt about them. She also explains when she knew it was time to hang up her bonnet. 

 

I am a Little House fan and have read the entire series. I will also catch a rerun anytime I can. After reading Alison Arngrim's memoir I knew I wanted to read more behind the scenes books. Anderson does a good job of telling her story and does so in such a way that the reader is instantly transported to the episode and can see it in their mind's eye. She also shares details of how she tried to be a regular teenager while on one of the most popular shows of the time. She describes how she felt about Michael Landon and his affair with her body double. She also explains when she knew it was time to leave Walnut Grove for good. The only thing that could have made this book a lot better was if she had read it herself although the narrator did a wonderful job.