Review: This Close To Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

This Close To Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: February 2021

When Tallie sees Ernest on the bridge, about to jump, she knows she has to stop him. She is a therapist after all. She wonders why he is there and what has brought him to this point in his life. She isn't frightened by him but has a desperate need to help. Ernest asks for a sign not to jump, and here comes Tallie, taking him in and caring about what is going on with him. Tallie decides and Ernest agrees to go back to her house for just the weekend. After the weekend, they can each go back to living their lives. Little do they know that the short time they will spend together will change them both forever.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't get enough of these characters and I didn't want this story to end. I had so many emotions throughout this whole book and by the end, I was very disappointed. I will be honest, I didn't like the ending. I wanted more from these characters and I didn't get the outcome I wanted from the story I read.

Have you ever met someone and had an instant connection? You feel like you can talk to them about almost anything and they won't judge you for it but will be supportive or critical as necessary. This is what happened with Tallie and Ernest, they didn't do small talk and got to the serious questions. The only problem is that each of them is hiding something, as we all do when we first meet someone. But the secrets they are keeping could destroy the weekend in one swift blow.

Will this encounter last just the weekend, or the rest of their lives?

This book had a lot of music associated with it, so I made a playlist click here to listen.  

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book, or to order a copy, click below:

Review: Float Plan by Trish Doller

Float Plan by Trish Doller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: March 2021

When Anna's calendar tells her right before Thanksgiving that it's time to set sail, she's not sure if she should take this trip or not. She was supposed to be taking this sail through the Caribbean with her fiance Ben. But ten months ago, Ben committed suicide and now Anna is unsure about everything in her life. She decides to set sail in memory of Ben but soon recognizes that this trip is too much to do alone. With the help of Keane, she navigates through the Caribbean and through the emotions clogging her heart.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Sailing through the Caribbean sounds like a dream come true for sure. I personally have never been to the Caribbean, but I would love to go. It sucks in the manner in which Anna has to go about it, but it seems like it could be a wonderful journey. I'm not sure what I would do if I lost someone and had to go on a trip that was planned for two.

For the first part of the trip, Anna tries to make it through on her own. Then she realizes that the trip is really better suited for at least two people. When Anna gets to Bimini, she hires a one-man crew to help her out. Keane is missing a part of his right leg, but that doesn't hinder him from getting the job done and teaching Anna the ways of the sea.

As they travel through the Caribbean, meeting new people and making new friends, they find out that spending so much time in close quarters could lead to other things. But will Anna be able to let go of Ben to see if there could be a future with Keane, or will this just be a trip through the Caribbean, and then they will each go their own way.

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book, or to order a copy, click below:

Review: The Redwood Con by Reagan Keeter

The Redwood Con by Reagan Keeter

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: May 2020

When Liam Parker doesn't initially see the texts from his girlfriend, Elise, since he is at a place where he can't answer his phone. We he finally seems them, and tries to call her, he finds it strange that she isn't answering. He rushes to her house to find her dead from an apparent suicide. This doesn't seem like something she would do. The police don't believe that it is a suicide either and all evidence points to Liam as the number one suspect. Will he be able to clear his name or will he go down for a crime he didn't commit.

Thanks to Reagan Keeter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This title hooked me from the beginning. I had to know what was going to happen next. I didn't know what to expect from this book. I didn't know if Liam Parker was a reliable character or not, but I was on his side. When the secret is revealed, I couldn't believe it.

Can you imagine being wanted for a crime you didn't commit? Too many times in life this happens. Liam Parker was determined not to let that happen to him. He was going to find out who was behind all of this even if it meant that he would put his own life in danger in order to do so. When his children are brought into the equation, it makes things even more difficult to deal with and to understand.

Reagan Keeter is a new to me author, but I will definitely be on the lookout for more of his books.

View all of my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book title below:

THE REDWOOD CON

Review: You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: March 2020
 

Shay Miller is having a rough time in life. She's in between jobs, feels like she's being forced our of her house, her best friend just had a baby, and oh yeah, she just saw a woman commit suicide. She feels quiet alone. On the way to her temp job one morning, she sees Amanda jump in front of the train she is supposed to be taking. After that, Shay become overly interested in Amanda's life, attending her memorial service, meeting her friends, and becoming friends with them. It feels like things are starting to really turn around, until ... the craziness begins.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I have enjoyed the other two books by this writing duo and I'm so excited to read more. This book gripped me from the very beginning and refused to let me go until the end. I found myself reading this book whenever I had a free moment. To me this is the best book they have written so far.

Your late twenties and early thirties can be a difficult time in a woman's life, especially if she is single, childless, and in between jobs. For Shay, when things to seem to be just turning around, its seems like there are even more obstacles in her way. When she meets some new friends, who help her with a new apartment and a makeover, it seems like things might really be going her way, but unfortunately, Shay is not that lucky. Will she be able to sort the truth from the lies?

I loved this book and I highly recommend it.

View all my reviews


To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: May 2013

Cormoran Strike is a Private Investigator, who has just been hired by John Bristow to investigate the death of his sister Lula Landry. Lula is a model in England and she has had her share of issues, but no one expected her to commit suicide. Cormoran hasn't been very lucky in life himself as of late, and this case is exactly what he needs to get a jump start. The police have been all over the evidence and there is nothing to support any other outcome for this case, but Cormoran is determined to find out the truth. Will he be surprised by who the killer is or will he find out quickly? With the help of his temporary assistant Robin, the case with all it's secrets will reveal the true killer.

I was not a very big fan of Harry Potter so I was excited when J.K. Rowling decided to try other writing. I'm glad she chose a pseudonym, because I don't think I would have read the books as J.K. Rowling.

When I first started listening to this book, I got quite confused. Each section starts with a Latin phrase. I had to be sure I had the right book. But I will say I was drawn in from the very beginning.

Everyone knows who Lula Landry is and everyone was affected by her death. Her brother doesn't believe she would have committed suicide even though she has serious depression. Her friends don't think she would have done it either. But if she didn't jump from her balcony and no one saw anyone else with her, then what happened? Cormoran interviews everyone who was involved with Lula and some of them twice. He enlists the help of his temporary assistant Robin, who proves to be quite useful.

I think from the beginning Cormoran had an idea of who the killer was. There are little things that happen throughout the story that give you that idea when it's all said and done. I'm very interested to know what is going to happen next in Cormoran's life and what other adventures he and Robin will find themselves on.



View all my reviews

 To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click on the book cover below:

Review: Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh

Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: March 2018

It is the one year anniversary of the death of Anna Johnson's mother when she receives an anonymous note that makes her question everything about her parents deaths. The previous year both her parents had taken their lives within months of each other, but did they really? When Anna goes to the police with her note, more disturbing events take place and she doesn't know what to do. Full of twists and turns you won't see coming, this book is definitely one to read.

I read this book as part of a buddy read and I loved it!! I didn't see any of the twists and turns coming.

Can you imaging grieving the deaths of your parents for a year just to find out that they might not even be dead? What would you do? Do you think anyone would believe you? I wasn't sure what was going to happen with this book and it's hard to give a concise review without giving away too many details.

I thought I knew what was going to happen in the end and who was behind all of the incidents happening in Anna's life, but I was way off. I couldn't have imagined the ending at all.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who like a thriller with unimaginable twists.

View all my reviews

To order a copy of this book for yourself or a friend, click the book cover below:

Audio Book Review: The Fix by David Baldacci

The Fix by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: 2017
Series: Amos Decker #3

It's a typical day for Amos Decker. He is on his way to the Hoover Building in downtown Washington, DC when a man pulls out a gun and shoots a woman right in front of FBI Headquarters. Then he turns the gun on himself. What the hell just happened and most importantly for Decker to find out, why? This is Decker's second case working for the FBI and they've moved him and Jamison from Quantico up to the Washington Field Office. Why would someone choose to shoot another person in front of the FBI building? Why would a successful businessman with a family do such a thing? What did the woman he kill do? Will Decker and his team be able to answer these questions before it's too late?

Walter Dabney seems like your average businessman. He lives in a nice house, with his wife. His grown children are all out of the house doing their own things making a lives for themselves. There are so many secrets though that this family is hiding and slowly they all begin to unravel. After Dabney shoots Ann Berkshire in broad daylight and then himself, other people start to turn up dead. Are all of these deaths connected and what is the connection? When Harper Brown from the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) turns up claiming there is spy work involved, it makes Decker even more eager to solve this case. But there are secrets behinds every corner and getting different government agencies to cooperate is not the easiest task.

Government secrets, spies from decades ago, messages passed through dolls and Harry Potter books, how will it all end?

I really enjoyed this book. I love the character of Amos Decker. I like how he has no cut cards, and shoots straight from the hip. He may get up and walk out of a room without explanation. He has a unique personality with his ability to never forget and see things in color. I look forward to the next Decker adventure.

View all my reviews

Order a copy of this book for yourself by clicking the book cover below: