‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – November 17

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is The Maid by Nita Prose. The expected publication date is January 4, 2022.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

What books are you waiting on this week?

Happy Pub Day – November 16

Happy Pub Day to all of these new books!

The Singles Table by Sara Desai

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

Even Greater Mistakes by Charlie Jane Anders

The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass by Anna Priemaza

Graceling: The Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore, Gareth Hinds

Believe Me by Tahereh Mafi

All the Feels by Olivia Dade

The Diamond Keeper by Jeannie Mobley

What books are you most excited for this week?

Top Ten Tuesday – Books to Read if You Loved One of Us Is Lying

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Books to Read if You Loved One of Us is Lying. Here’s my list:

1. One fo Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus

2. These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin

3. The Sky Above by Natalie Lund

4. Tell Me When You Feel Something by Vicki Grant

5. They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

6. There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

7. This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lepore

8. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

9. The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

10. The Window by Amelia Brunskill

(All book covers from Goodreads)

What’s your list of books on your Top Ten Tuesday?

Review: Verity

Title: Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: Thriller, Romance
Publisher: Hoover Ink, Inc.
Source: Gifted
Format: Paperback
Release Date: December 7, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

A standalone romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

Review:

Lowen Ashleigh is struggling as a writer, when a seemingly perfect job is offered to her. Jeremy Crawford is married to bestselling author Verity Crawford, who is now unable to finish writing her book series. Jeremy hires Lowen to complete the series. She goes to their home to find Verity’s research, but she walks into a tragic family. Their daughters had died the year before and Verity was paralyzed from a car accident. While Lowen is searching for Verity’s outlines, she finds an autobiography that was never intended to be read. Lowen hides the contents of the autobiography, while also falling for Jeremy, until she realizes he should know the truth about his wife.

This book is definitely worth the hype. It has been all over bookstagram for the last three years and I’ve only seen positive reviews. It was fast paced and nearly impossible to put down!

I would absolutely love to see what happens after the ending of the story, but I also like that there’s some mystery surrounding what will happen next. I’ll definitely be recommending it to anyone who hasn’t read it yet.

Verity is a fantastic, fast-paced thriller!

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Have you read Verity? What did you think of it?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – November 15

This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I just finished:

This weekend I finished Verity by Colleen Hoover.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading Frankie and Bug by Gayle Forman.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Jill’s Weekly Wrap-Up – November 14

Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

I did 7 weekly blogging memes:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Sundays in Bed With… Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.

This Sunday I’m reading Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A Betrayal…

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice…

Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret…

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

What book are you in bed with today?

Six for Sunday – Books That Scared Me

This meme is hosted by Steph at A little but a lot. The weekly prompts for 2019 can be found here.

This week’s prompt is Books That Scared Me. Here’s my list:

1. White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

2. Tell Me My Name by Erin Ruddy

3. The Shining by Stephen King

4. Hush-A-Bye by Jody Lee Mott

5. The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

6. Don’t Look for Me by Wendy Walker

(All book covers from Goodreads)

Did you make a Six for Sunday list?

Review: White Smoke

Title: White Smoke
Author: Tiffany D. Jackson
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 14, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.

Review:

Seventeen-year-old Marigold and her family move from their home in California to a Midwestern small town where her mom has accepted a job that includes a free house. The rest of the houses on the street are abandoned, and the neighbours in the area are suspicious of everything. As soon as they arrive, things start going wrong in the house. Doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows appear in hallways and items disappear. Mari’s ten-year-old stepsister starts talking to an imaginary friend in the house, who wants Mari to leave. As the incidents in the house increase and become more dangerous, Mari has to do whatever it takes to save her family.

This story had some heavy subjects that I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t think there would be as many realistic elements as there were. Some of these serious subjects were drug addiction, overdose, and a severe allergic reaction. Though this was a spooky horror, there were a lot of realistic implications to the story.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked that the ending made sense and was logical. The only thing that I would have liked to see was justice at the end. There were many layers of destruction happening in the community, and I would have loved to see the events after the story finished where they got what they deserved.

White Smoke is a thrilling horror story!

The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Horrid by Katrina Leno

Have you read White Smoke? What did you think of it?

Review: The Austen Girls

Title: The Austen Girls
Author: Lucy Worsley
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Would she ever find a real-life husband? Would she even find a partner to dance with at tonight’s ball? She just didn’t know.

Anna Austen has always been told she must marry rich. Her future depends upon it. While her dear cousin Fanny has a little more choice, she too is under pressure to find a suitor.

But how can either girl know what she wants? Is finding love even an option? The only person who seems to have answers is their Aunt Jane. She has never married. In fact, she’s perfectly happy, so surely being single can’t be such a bad thing? 

The time will come for each of the Austen girls to become the heroines of their own stories. Will they follow in Jane’s footsteps?

In this witty, sparkling novel of choices, popular historian LUCY WORSLEY brings alive the delightful life of Jane Austen as you’ve never seen it before.

Review:

1809: Fanny and Anna Austen are two teenage cousins who have just debuted to society. Their goal is to find the perfect husband, though that looks different for each girl. Fanny is from a wealthier family, and her mother insists she marry someone of a higher status. Anna’s family is not as well off, so she must aim lower for a husband. Meanwhile, a man that Fanny has just met is falsely accused of a crime, and her Aunt Jane has to help her figure out how to set him free. Both girls have to grow into young women and find their futures in Regency England.

This is another fun historical story from Lucy Worsley. I love Jane Austen, so this was an entertaining look into her family life. Jane was the fun aunt who helped Fanny and Anna with their daily problems. However, when they wanted advice on romance, Fanny’s mother didn’t want them going to Aunt Jane. Jane Austen may have written some of the most famous romantic stories but she was never married. She was very observant to human nature, though, so she was able to (secretly) write romances that are still being read and adapted two hundred years later.

Some of the subject matter may be surprising for young readers. Fanny and Anna were about sixteen years old, but they were expected to find husbands and get married immediately. Many of the suitors the girls had were grown men and sometimes middle aged. Today, it wouldn’t be appropriate for a teenage girl to be getting engaged to a man twice her age, but it was common and sometimes expected in the 1800s. The story also took a serious turn at the end, which I wasn’t expecting. However, it authentically represented the issues that young girls faced during the time.

The Austen Girls is a beautiful Jane Austen themed story!

My Name is Victoria by Lucy Worsley

Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

Have you read The Austen Girls? What did you think of it?