Review: Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy

Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Liv and Nora are cousins and practically sisters. They decide to take their families on a two week cruise down the coast of Central America. Both women cautious, they spend the first several days aboard the ship. When they finally decide to take an excursion, the men head for golf and the women take the kids on a zip line tour. This is when all hell breaks loose! From the bus breaking down, to six children going missing in a foreign country, this family vacation is definitely not going to plan. Told from the perspective of the children and the parents, as well other key characters that are introduced throughout, you dive deep into the story and it's hard to get drawn out!

This is the first book I've read by Maile Meloy, and I can't wait to read more! I think this is one of the very few times I have read a book with so many characters taking their turn to tell the story and not gotten confused by what is going on. The story flowed perfectly with the unbelievable around every turn.

I will say, not any of the characters in this story are likable, except for Nora's son, Marcus, but I don't think they need to be. You are still intrigued by what is going on and what is going to happen next. This does make you want to hug your kids a little tighter, if you have them. Tell them you love them no matter what and make you want to protect them even more than you already do. To me, this book was amazing and I highly recommend it!

Imagine, all your plans for the day going down the tube. Your tour bus breaks down, so you decide to wait at the beach while a new bus arrives. Then maybe you drift off to sleep while the kids are playing in the water near by. The kids are old enough to look after themselves and those who aren't, have the older kids to look after them. Now imagine waking up from what felt like just a moments rest, to find the children that were just there playing in front of you, have vanished. No where to be found no idea where they could have gone. What do you do, who do you call? You're in a foreign country and you opted not to get the international plan for you phone. Where are your children, and what is being done to them?

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Review: The Black Book by James Patterson

The Black Book by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Detective Billy Harney comes from a family of cops. His dad is a cop, the head of detectives and his twin sister is a cop. Billy likes to play by the rules, he's a good cop. When he takes down a brothel in the middle of Chicago filled with the city's most prominent people, the mayor, the arch bishop, etc., he is faced with a few difficult situations to get him through this arrest and trial. With the help from Goldie, a family friend and the head of Internal Affairs, Billy will get to the bottom of this case one way or another. But then those involved in the case end up dead, including himself, briefly, and his memory leading up to the trial is erased. Will he be able to find his memory before he is charged with the deaths?

James Patterson has long been on of my go-to authors. His books may be long(100+ chapters), but they are always a quick read. I've been making my way through his standalone books this year and I have to say that his is one of the best he's written in a long time as well as one of the best I've read this year.

This book had me on the edge of my seat and as soon as I though I knew who did what, I quickly found out I was wrong. The end was unpredictable and enjoyable.

I hope James Patterson continues to give us books like this.

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Last chance to enter my Birthday Giveaway.  Click the link for your chance to win a Readers Journal and swag from the National Book Festival. 

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Review: Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land

Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Milly is 15 years old. She has just been placed with a foster family because she has just turned her mother in to the police. Why would a 15 year old need to turn their parent in to the police? Her mother is a serial killer who kills children. Milly is afraid that she may turn out just like her mother. Does she have it in her to be good, or is she bad like her mother? How much of our make up is nature and how much is nurture?

Thank you to Flatiron Books and Ali Land for an advanced reader's copy of this book.

I was so excited to read this book. I couldn't wait. The description alone is enough to get you intrigued. While reading the book, I kept waiting for something to happen. Something big, something major!!! It never happened. Milly did a few little things to "test" her limits on the side of good or bad, but nothing I don't think a typical teenager who was being bullied would have done in her same situation.

After turning in her mother to the police, Milly is sent to live with a foster family. The father is her psychiatrist, the mother is in need of one, and the daughter is jealous and a bully from the time Milly moves in. Milly tells the story as if she is talking to her mother. It covers a span of a few months, while Milly is waiting to give her testimony in her mother's trial. Overall it's a good story. I don't think I would put it in a category of psychological thriller, because it didn't leave me on the edge of my seat and there wasn't a major WOW moment.

This is a debut novel from author Ali Land, and I will see what her next book will be.


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Last week to enter my Birthday Giveaway!! Click the giveaway link to be entered to win a Readers Journal and Swag from the National Book Festival!!!

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Winning Wednesday--Bookish Giveaways

FREE BOOKS TO GET YOU OVER THE HUMP!!

Celebrate with me all month! It's my birthday and I'm giving away the gifts.  Enter for your chance to win a Reading Journal(I love mine), and swag I picked up at the National Book Festival.  Includes signed book mark, Maryland tattoo, "I'm in love with a fictional character" button, and more.
Open to US Residents only--Ends September 30th









The Ultimate Gretchen Rubin Giveaway
Enter for your chance to win four Gretchen Rubin books.  Her latest book, The Four Tendencies will be signed.  This giveaway is brought to you by Books For Better Living.
 
Open to US Residents Only--Ends September 18th

Calling all Yogis
Enter for your chance to win Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley and a yoga mat from Innerbloom.  This giveaway is on Instagram, so you must sign in to win. Brought to you by PureWow.

Open to US Residents Only--Ends September 15th


Discover New Authors
Enter for your chance to win 5-7 paperback books from Indie Authors.  This giveaway is a little tricky, since you will not know which books you will get until the contest is over.  You will get books tailored for the genre you prefer.
Open to everyone, although if you are outside of the US, you will receive e-books instead of paperbacks.--Ends September 21st.

Stories of Sun, Sand, and Sea
Enter for your chance to win a box set of books by 11 different authors.  There will be six winners for this prize.  5 winners will receive ARC of the 11 books in the box sets.  1 Lucky winner will get the ARC of the box set, one additional ebook or short story from one of the authors, plus a $10 Amazon gift card to buy more books!!!
         
Ends September 15th

Have Tea on Mary Balogh
Enter for your chance to win all three Wescott novels(the latest is an advanced copy) from Mary Balogh.  If you like Historical Romance these are the books for you.  You will get the books below along with a tote, Wedgwood Tea, a tea strainer, and a tea spoon.
    
Open to US Residents -- Ends September 22nd from Penguin Random House

Annotated Podcast Sweepstakes by Hachette Book Group

Enter to win these books that were featured during Book Riot's  podcast Annotated, a new podcast that talks about books, reading and language.  Hachette Book Group was the sponsor of these books.  The winner will receive 1 hard copy of the 12 books below.  Three winners will be selected.  

                      
Open to US Residents only--Ends September 15th

Do you love Romantic Suspense??
Enter for your chance to win 2 books by Jayne Ann Krentz.  When All the Girls Have Gone and an advanced reader's copy of Promise Not to Tell(Releasing January 2, 2108)from Penguin Random House

Open to US Residents Only-- HURRY ENDS TODAY September 14th


Book Riot Giveaway Page -- Click here

Giveaways from Goodreads

Also check out my Other Bookish Stuff Page.  I update it frequently with quizzes and other interesting book information!!  Happy Reading!!

**These giveaways are not sponsored by What 'Cha Readin'?(except my own) Please see each giveaway for official rules.**