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. 

Resist Me by A.O. Peart

http://www.amazon.com/Resist-Change-McCoy-Brothers-STANDALONE-ebook/dp/B00N6HPHRK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

This is a very good read. Not at all what i would expect from a book like this. I will say that there is a graphic rape scene in this so I wouldn't recommend this for younger readers or those sensitive to this type of thing. It kept me very interested so much so that I finished it in less than four hours. I love the character development and especially the plot. I would recommend this to anyone who is into romance novels.

When Aliens Weep (Species Intervention #6609) Book 7

http://www.amazon.com/When-Aliens-Weep-Apocalyptic-Intervention-ebook/dp/B00N1ZLI7K/

Aliens Weep is the the 7th installment to the Species Intervention series and it does not disappoint. It is amazing how after you think that the author can't surprise you with anything else she still does. All of these new twist and turns just make the series fresh and more enjoyable to me. Trust me on this you can NEVER get bored with this series. And once again it has left me wanting another book on this series from this author. I am saddened that this is supposed to be the last book. I just desperately need to know what happens next. I think this series should be at the top of everyone's reading list this year if you enjoy Dystopian stories or like me just things that are different. Hoping there will be another. I just don't want this series to end.

Three Days of Rain by Christine Hughes

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Days-Rain-Christine-Hughes-ebook/dp/B00H7L05OG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394252711&sr=8-3&keywords=three+days+of+rain

         Three Days of Rain is its very own type of romance story. Our main character Jake is trying to deal with his life and things that still haunt him from the past. Although it has been two years it isn't working. Then in walks Lily a girl who has her whole life ahead of her, this is just one of her stops along the way to her bright future in Georgia. Little did either of them know that they were meant for each other. Is this happiness false or will everything work out better this time?
         I honestly don't know what to say about my feelings on this book. I have never felt so much emotion for a character as I have with this book. I cried when they cried. I laughed when they laughed. I couldn't even make myself hate the one person I felt like i should have in this book. This author is amazing at what she does. I am still in tears and somehow I know this book is going to effect me for may days possibly even weeks to come.

Wicked Souls by Sabrina Samples

http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Souls-Sabrina-Samples-ebook/dp/B00DLZX2EM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394152148&sr=8-1&keywords=wicked+souls+sabrina+samples

Wicked Souls is a paranormal romance novel. It has your basic good vs. evil element to it but with a twist the evil is not easily identifiable. It is a pretty good story but I felt like it was sometimes too descriptive and in the begining moved pretty slow. However it did pick up and it has a potential to be a great series. I would love to read those following this one as well.

Branded (Sinners Series) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kaliciki

http://www.amazon.com/Branded-Sinners-Abi-Ketner-ebook/dp/B00DOPHK56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393646050&sr=8-1&keywords=branded+sinners+1+by+abi+ketner

         Branded is a dystopian young adult novel in which the world is now run by sins. If you sin you go to the hole where you are lucky if you survive. We follow a young girl who has been accused of the sin of Lust and we follow her on her journey and see what life is really like in the hole. Will she live or die? Did she really sin? This was a good book and a fairly quick read for me. I enjoyed the characters but felt that some of them could have been developed more with their back stories. It was entertaining and I would like to see more from this series in the future. I am hoping that the next one is just as good if not better than this one. 

Once Upon a Backpack by Jill Elizabeth Wyckoff

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Backpack-True-Life-Self-Discovery-ebook/dp/B00HHD6T1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391883298&sr=8-1&keywords=once+upon+a+backpack
     Once Upon a Backpack by Jill Wyckoff is a self-help book/testimony/life story of the author. It is a very short book but also a very powerful one. Through it we learn more about the author and the struggles she had had to face along the way both good and bad. It is told in a fairytale format which I find unique as it is the first book of this kind I have seen done this way. It is a book I reccomend for anyone who is trying to find their way in life. It is very emotional and left me in tears. Thank you for telling your amazing story to the world Wyckoff!

Units by Leanne Williamson

http://www.amazon.com/Units-Leanne-Williamson-ebook/dp/B00DYS04C4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391882586&sr=1-1&keywords=UNITS+LEANNE+WILLIAMSON

Units  is a young adult dystopian story. It is pretty short in length. I read it in around two hours. It is a different take on what could happen if the world fell apart. I felt reminded of the Hunger Games trilogy as I read it, mainly because there was a sense of hopelessness and no way out alive. It was simple conform or die. I also felt sorry for the main character Pear she has to deal with so much and there is so much more to come! I keep finding myself wondering if she will make it out alive. I would recommend this book to anyone I think it will be yet another great series to look for and continue reading.

Baby Daddy (Scandals) by Kathy Clarke

http://www.amazon.com/BABY-DADDY-SCANDALS-Kathy-Clark-ebook/dp/B00GQC1S3O/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391881917&sr=1-1&keywords=scandals+baby+daddy

Baby Daddy is the first book in the series Scandal by Kathy Clark. It draws you in from the first page with its descriptiveness and powerful words. Killeen is a college student who has a lot going for her, soft ball, boyfriend, and a dream to be an Olympian. But it all gets turned upside down after a graduation party for her boyfriend Brandon and a big pink plus sign when he leaves her. Then a mysterious knock comes at her door and she soon finds herself in Texas finding out who her biological father is (now deceased) and to top it off that she has four half brothers and sisters. She  and her siblings also discover that to have part of there inheritance they must work in Texas for their fathers company along with his partner Christopher. It is also here in Texas that Killeen meets her future. Will they all stay? Was her fathers death really as they say it was, or was it something more sinister?

 I really enjoyed this book I read it in two days. I liked how it was modern but still had a fairy tale twist to it. I mean its not like someone shows up everyday and says I found your long lost relative and they left you a ton of money. What intrigued and impressed me the most was the impact of the words it made the story more real to me. The first paragraph of the book drew me in. I liked the descriptiveness as well but at times its seemed almost too descriptive. All in all it was a good book and I would like to read the others in the series as well.

Road Rash by Bonnie Bernard and Doug Skinner

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Rash-Bonnie-Bernard-ebook/dp/B00G3GJI80/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391881184&sr=1-1&keywords=road+rash+bonnie

Road Rash by Bonnie Bernard and Doug Skinner is a very short novella about what happens once we die. It is actually very good and gives insight into what may or may not happen in the after life. I found it funny and a very light and quick read. I think this is yet another good story from these authors and would love to read more by them both.

Rest Inn Peace by Bonnie Bernard

http://www.amazon.com/Rest-Inn-Peace-Bonnie-Bernard-ebook/dp/B00ED7ZF7E/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1391879945&sr=8-1&keywords=rest+in+peace+bonnie+bernard

Rest in Peace is a very interesting paranormal young adult book. It follows the story of Corbin and his daughter Zoe as they move to the Broken Spur valley to take over the Rest Inn Peace in that was left to Corbin in his grandmothers will. However Rest Inn Peace in isn’t your usual inn. It is an inn for paranormal guest such as fairies, yetis, ghost, vampires, werewolves and the like. There is also something sinister going on here as well. Since Corbin and Zoe have moved here murders have begun to happen in this once quiet place. The question you will find yourself asking is who is it! Don’t be surprised if you find out you are wrong more than a few times!

I enjoyed this book it was entertaining and I really loved the twist at the end I can only hope that there will be more of these books to come so I can see what happens next! I think that this would be a good series for teens around 16 and up to read as well as young adults. The story flows seamlessly and it is easy to get into. I didn’t find it to be very long and I had it read in two days.