Book Review - Golden in Death (In Death, Book 50) by J.D. Robb

"All that glitters is not gold."

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Golden in Death (In Death, Book 50) 

by J.D. Robb

Expected publication: February 4th, 2020 by St. Martin's Press

ISBN: 1250207207

Book Review

by Sofie Hern

Advanced Reader's Copy courtesy of 

Edelweiss and St. Martin's Press

Four stars for this one. J.D. Robb’s words are so familiar to me that her books, her voice, has a form of cadence to them. Her books read smooth and precise that at times, I forget that I’m even reading. It has become such a pleasure to read these books and visit with characters that have become so familiar to me. With each book, I become more attached to the In Death universe that I can’t see me not reading them.

In this 50th installment, we continue to follow kick-ass cop Eve Dallas and company as she solves yet another tough case. With golden eggs, toxins, murder, and sexy scenes, JD Robb continues to produce beautiful work.

Lieutenant Dallas and Detective Peabody are looking for a killer who uses toxins hidden in a golden egg. As Dallas and Peabody investigate the case, they encounter unlikable characters and memorable ones. What I love about this book is that I get to follow every lead and dead-end alongside the homicide duo and other regular characters. This one is particularly refreshing as we see Dallas finally accept that Roarke is part of her process and that with his help, her work has become a little bit easier. She still kicks ass and takes no BS, she just does it more efficiently.

In this book, we see a few beloved characters and Eve’s interactions with them. When one of my favorite characters makes an appearance, I appreciate the book even more. This one had me laughing out loud at Eve’s literal sense, and it also had me in tears with her beautiful heart and compassion. 

Robb isn't one for cliffhangers or major plot twists but instead allows the plot, the case, to unravel right before your eyes, which is not to say there is no suspense. There is the right amount of twists, turns, funny and touching moments. Not many authors can make this happen and still continue to produce outstanding work. An absolute gem.

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Review: The Night Before by Wendy Walker

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“There's nothing stupid about wanting to be loved. Believe me.”
― Nina LaCour, Everything Leads to You

The Night Before

Wendy Walker

The last few pages of this one were a lot more intense than I predicted. What a crazy, twisty read this was! I love a good thriller, especially when I it has me thinking I’ve got it all figured out only to throw me off the path completely. 

This is a story of an emotionally broken woman who is looking for a man who is willing to love her even when she believes she’s unlovable. All her life, Laura Lochner has looked for love in the wrong places and has decided it’s time for a change. She decides to look for love using a dating website. Her fear of finding the wrong man is constantly in her mind but knows she will one day find the one. 

Her decision to meet up with Jonathan Fields, a man she men online, will trigger a series of events which make this book extremely difficult to put down. When Laura doesn’t return home, her sister Rosie begins to worry about what might have happened. Do to Laura’s past; Rosie begins to feel concern not only for Laura but for the man named Jonathan Fields. 

A fast paced read with some great twists. Excellent.

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ARC Review - After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” 
― Mark Twain

I was granted this ARC by NeGalley and St. Martin’s Press. One of the things I enjoy most about a thriller is that it is exactly what it says it is. After Anna is undoubtedly a thriller packed with unrelenting suspense. This was my first Lisa Scottoline and now I know it will not be my last. I requested this Advanced Readers Copy because the blurb intrigued me. I was expecting a slow paced, family drama with a bit of suspense and I was pleasantly surprised it provided more than I expected.

The story is set in Philadelphia and is follows Maggie, a happily married to Dr. Noah Alderman and a step-mother to ten-year-old, Caleb.  Maggie lost custody of her infant daughter Anna who is now seventeen. Wanting to reconnect with her mother, Anna moves to Philadelphia. While Maggie and Anna attempt to bond, Noah feels something isn’t right about Anna. This causes friction in their marriage and lies begin to unravel. When Anna is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Noah becomes a prime suspect.

The story is told in two different points of view showing the before and the after Anna. Noah must prove his innocence as he is on trial for the murder of his step-daughter.

As the story progresses you don’t know what to believe. The pace of the book is unbelievably fast and does not let go! The last few pages were so intense I was biting my nails and my heart was going crazy! It is such a refreshing and unique story that makes this a very difficult book to put down. You will be sucked in from the first page and will leave you feeling like you just ran a marathon!

ARC Review - The Retreat by Mark Edwards

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Without hope we fail to exist.” 
― Lailah Gifty Akita

I was granted this ARC by NetGalley and Amazon Publishing. This is truly a great read for those who enjoy suspense/thrillers. One of the things I enjoy about a book like this is the fact that it makes you think. I had to stop reading a few times just to think the why, when were and who. This one certainly kept me guessing until the end. At times it read like a paranormal story which is certainly not my thing but still kept me interested. 

The story follows Julia a grieving mother and wife after the loss of her husband and disappearance of her young daughter. She seems to be the only who believes that her daughter might still be alive. To cope with her grief, Julia turns her home into a writers retreat. Things change when Lucas, a guest at the retreat begins to dig up, so-to-speak in an attempt to uncover the truth behind the disappearance.

If you like a good mystery, I do believe you will enjoy this one

ARC Review - The Museum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd

4 ✩✩✩✩

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” 
― Elbert Hubbard

NetGalley granted me this ARC. I am very selective when it comes to requesting ARCs and I’m so glad I requested this one. This is one of the best debut novels I’ve read in quite some time. It surprised me how quick it sucked me in. I was hooked from the start and continued to keep my attention until the very last page. 

I was able to relate to Sadie and found it refreshing to find such memorable characters. Each one was developed in a way that made me angry and happy and feel a dozen other emotions! The story was easy to follow with really good lesson in it. I definitely recommend it!