My Sweet Audrina/ Whitefern by V.C. Andrews

https://www.amazon.com/My-Sweet-Audrina-Whitefern-Bindup/dp/1982106654/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=my+sweet+audrina%2F+whitefern&qid=1560924453&s=gateway&sr=8-1

This book is a two in one book so there will be a rating for each book as follows

My Sweet Audrina: 

BLURB (My Sweet Audrina): In My Sweet Audrina, Audrina Adare only desires to be as good as her sister. She believes her father could not love her as he loved her sister. In his eyes, her sister was so special, so perfect—he never stops mourning her passing and is constantly comparing Audrina to the memory of the daughter he had.

Upstairs in the locked room are her sister’s clothes and dolls, her animals and games, and her sacred rocking chair—which holds the secret of all her sister’s gifts. Something magical happens to her when she rocks in it, but that journey is not without its terrifying turns. In the end, it will help lead her to the terrifying secret that everyone knows. Everyone except... my sweet Audrina.

REVIEW: My Sweet Audrina is I feel a classic V.C. Andrews book. If you loved her original works you will love this. i really enjoyed all off this book and read through it fairly quickly. I have always loved this authors writing. It was originally written as a standalone book and honestly I feel it would have been best as a standalone book not a series. I would recommend this book to anyone. 

Whitefern:

BLURB (Whitefern): In Whitefern, the unforgettable sequel, Audrina is left in the labyrinthine manor called Whitefern after the patriarch’s death. Now that she has discovered the truth, will she ever be able to lead any semblance of a normal life? Alone with her dim-witted sister and cruel husband, she begins to take on the past and weave her way back from the empty grave to the possibility of a full life without the curse of dark memories her own father carefully wove around her. The sequel to My Sweet Audrina is as intriguing and as much an emotional roller coaster.

REVIEW: I was excited to read Whitefern after reading My Sweet Audrina. I felt like I needed more of the story. However after reading it I can honestly say I wish I hadn't. I didn't enjoy how the story was told nor what the characters turned into. Maybe its just because I got to close to them all in the first book. I just struggled to see these people go through anymore pain, suffering, or twisted secrets. It physically made my heart hurt. Also i could see a huge difference in writing styles between the two.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

https://www.amazon.com/Couple-Next-Door-Novel/dp/0735221103/ref=sr_1_1?crid=O7XAGLRXRS54&keywords=the+couple+next+door&qid=1560923902&s=gateway&sprefix=the+couple+n%2Caps%2C-1&sr=8-1

BLURB: It all started at a dinner party. . .

A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors—a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . .

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night, when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately lands on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they've kept for years. 

What follows is the nerve-racking unraveling of a family—a chilling tale of  deception, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist.

REVIEW: I picked this up at my library to read because it seemed pretty interesting. I read it in one day so it is a pretty pretty quick read. While i did find it to be a good story line it was just to obvious to me how it would turn out for me about halfway through. I would suggest it for anyone who loves thrillers. It is a good book just too predictable for me.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Crawdads-Sing-Delia-Owens/dp/0735219095/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=where+the+crawdads+sing&qid=1560922953&s=gateway&sr=8-1

BLURB: For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life--until the unthinkable happens.

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

REVIEW: I checked out this book at my local library after hearing people raving about it. I thought I would at least give it a try and honestly it blew me away! This is my favorite book that i have read this year (so far). It's such and amazing story and I loved every second. You REALLY NEED TO READ THIS! 

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Disaster-Novel-Jamie-McGuire-ebook/dp/B008JMKN4Y/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=beautiful+disaster&qid=1558252339&s=gateway&sr=8-1

BLURB: The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand. 

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

REVIEW: I bought this book based of the cover because I wanted to read something different. I didn't read the back I just bought it on impulse. (It is book one in a 3 part series) I felt that the story was pretty good but I didn't enjoy the constant teenage angst and back and forth. I felt like the main characters relationship was just an entire disaster (fitting title) and borderline abusive. I can't count the times I wanted to bang my head against the wall because of them. However, that being said, I did like how the characters grew throughout the story. Honestly I may bang my head against the wall a lot more as I want to see how the story winds up. 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

https://www.amazon.com/Night-Circus-Erin-Morgenstern-ebook/dp/B004J4WKTW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=night+circus&qid=1558251453&s=gateway&sr=8-1

BLURB: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

REVIEW: Honestly what can I say about this book... It's MAGICAL. I feel more in love page by page. This is one of those books that I can see myself  reading over and over again. I feel like it could easily become a classic in years to come.I could hardly put this book down. The descriptions are so vivid, and the characters a developed extremely well. I NEED MORE of this world!

Verity by Colleen Hoover

https://www.amazon.com/Verity-Colleen-Hoover/dp/1791392792/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=verity&qid=1557389476&s=gateway&sr=8-1

BLURB: 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 the night their family was forever altered. 

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. 

Due to graphic scenes and mature content, this book is recommended for readers 18+.

REVIEW: This book is so twisted and sick it just pulls you in until its over and leaves you sitting there wondering what just happened. I still can't believe it's over. I need more! Honestly i think it will give me nightmares for days to come. I don't know how I got through some of it but I swear its worth it. I love Hoover's writing style and will be looking for more books by them ASAP.

Laguna by A'gata Green

https://www.amazon.com/Laguna-Lethal-Weapon-Agata-Green-ebook/dp/B07L52HR4F/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=a%27gata+green&qid=1557361366&s=gateway&sr=8-2

BLURB: Laguna: A Lethal Weapon is a psychological thriller that will take you on a journey from the stirrings of new love to a passionate obsession, with many erotic moments along the way. The poignant ending propels the ill-fated lovers to an unexpected crescendo that you will never forget.

You will meet Anastasia, a Siberian-born cosmopolitan woman and her beloved Alejandro, an escapee from the chaos in Chile during the 80s. Their story unfolds in the dazzling city of Montréal and ends in the snowy mountains of Alberta.
Within the pages you will learn about a technique—known as Laguna—that few men can master. A technique that combines powerful energy of a dedicated man and leaves women breathless and almost unconscious.
Prepared to be charmed, titillated, and shocked. It doesn't get much better than this.
Erotic psychological thriller

REVIEW: I received a Kindle copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Laguna is a basic erotic novel and it is said to have a psychological thriller element which is one of the things that intrigued me about the book (however I did not see any real signs of that at all), The book was pretty short and I read it in one sitting. I noted a few spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book but it didn't distract from the story to much. However the layout on the kindle really distracted me. it was like one big chapter with pages where the chapters should have been sorted would have huge headers to indicate the next part. I just could not seem to connect to the characters of this story and while there was some back story I feel like it should have went deeper to understand them more. It felt like I just went from sexual experience to new sexual experience every couple of pages with no real story in between. I just felt like there could be so much more to this story and I never found it.

A Death At Tippitt Pond by Susan Van Kirk

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Tippitt-Pond-Sweet-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07NPXLF6Q/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3MPF6LIWY89YQ&keywords=a+death+at+tippitt+pond&qid=1557144817&s=gateway&sprefix=a+death+at+t%2Caps%2C872&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

BLURB: Secrets long buried surround the murder of teenage Melanie Tippitt. The daughter of a wealthy family in a small town, her lifeless body was found floating in Tippitt Pond in the summer of 1971. Six people were there that day, and one was convicted of her murder. Case closed

Now, forty-five years later, Beth Russell, a freelance researcher and genealogist, is brought to the town by a lawyer who believes Russell is the daughter of Melanie Tippitt and long-lost heir to the Tippitt fortune. Soon Beth finds herself surrounded by people who want her gone as soon as possible, people with a great deal to lose. The more they push, the more determined Beth is to discover the truth. With the help of a handsome detective, Beth vows to uncover what happened that day at Tippitt Pond.
The ghostly presence of Melanie Tippitt, a stranger watching from the woods, and the discovery of secrets in Tippitt House make for a suspense-filled investigation where Beth discovers … A DEATH AT TIPPITT POND changed everything.

REVIEW: I received this ARC book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. A Death At Tippitt Pond drew me in just from looking at the cover and it did not disappoint(such a page-turner!). I love the story and how the author kept me guessing right up until the very end. I had a hard time putting it down! i loved how each character came to life as i read it. I would recommend it to anyone. I am hoping there are more books to follow this one as it would make a great series. Keep up the good work Van Kirk I cant wait to see what you come up with next!

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Patient-Alex-Michaelides-ebook/dp/B07D2C6J4K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1556444848&sr=8-1

BLURB: Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

REVIEW: The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book captivated me from the first chapter until the last word. I have read it in less than 48 hours because i just couldn't put it down! It's one of those books that sticks with you and leaves you with questions even when it is done. The author gives a very vivid picture to what is going on throughout the book and leaves you with a shocking twist at the end.I feel like I am still in a state of shock.  I won't say anymore about the story as I'm afraid to give away the ending but I 100% recommend you pick up this book and give it a try. Trust me YOU WILL THANK ME LATER. 

House of Secrets by V.C. Andrews

https://www.amazon.com/House-Secrets-Novel-V-C-Andrews/dp/1501162500

BLURB: Ever since Fern could remember, she and her mother have lived as servants in Wyndemere House, the old gothic mansion of the Davenport family. She may have been a servant, but Fern developed a sweet friendship with Dr. Davenport’s son, Ryder, and she was even allowed free range of the estate.

But Dr. Davenport has remarried and his new wife has very different ideas about a servant’s place. Now Fern and her mother are subject to cruel punishments, harsh conditions, and aren’t even allowed to use the front door.

Yet, for all her wrath, the cruel woman cannot break the mysterious bond between Ryder and Fern. And when Ryder invites Fern to join his friends at prom, there’s nothing Mrs. Davenport can do to stop them nor can she continue to guard the secret that haunts the women of Wyndemere—but there’s nothing she won’t try.

After all, reputation is everything.

REVIEW:  I found this story to be a typical V.C. Andrews story. The tale tale mystery surrounding the teen girl who is fighting to find herself amidst some unknown force. it was a good book and kept me reading and  I enjoyed the story line. However it was just so predicable. I had the whole ending the book figured out (except one or two minor details) well before the end. It left me kind of disappointed as I lived for the plot twist from this author when I first started reading them back in high school. I'm not sure maybe I have read to many of her books now, maybe its because I have grown up and have a family of my own now, but  I really miss the shock and awe I used to get from this author. If this is one of the first books you have read by her I'm sure you will enjoy it. However if you have read most of them (like I have) it will be just the same basic story concept with new characters and places.