Can't Wait for Woman Down

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Woman Down

By: Colleen Hoover

Expected Publication: January 13, 2026 by Montlake

? pages

Genre: Adult, Thriller, Suspense

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this twisty thriller from New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a frustrated author looks for her muse in a remote hideaway, but what she finds defies all expectations…and reality.

Her words used to set the page on fire. But a viral backlash over her latest film adaptation forced Petra Rose to take a hiatus, resulting in missed deadlines and an overdue mortgage. Branded a fraud and fame-hungry opportunist, she learned the hard way what happens when the internet turns on you. And she’s been uninspired to write ever since.

Now, with her next suspense novel outlined and savings nearly gone, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin, hoping to find inspiration. It’s Petra’s last-ditch attempt to save her career—and herself.

Then he shows up.

Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives with disturbing news, his presence igniting a creativity in her she thought long since burned out. Petra’s words return in a rush, and her fictional cop character begins to mirror the very real cop who’s becoming her muse.

Their “research” sessions blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Each glance, every touch pulls Petra deeper into a world she thought she’d never lose herself in again. She’s never felt more alive. But inspiration this powerful comes at a cost.

When Saint starts taking his role in her career a little too seriously, Petra’s forced to confront the chaos she created. But doing so could cost her more than the reputation she’s been trying to salvage. The reputation the world wrote for her—the reputation only she can reclaim.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

An Alleged Rogue - Review

An Alleged Rogue (Georgian Gentlemen, # 3)

By: Sian Ann Bessey

Publication: November 8th 2021 by Covenant Communications

332 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Lord Adam Dunsbourne is a tyrant. At least, that’s what everyone says. The tales are shocking: accounts of a man who gambled away the family fortune and keeps his younger sister, Emily, captive in their home at Dunsbourne Manor. So when Adam and his sister make an unexpected appearance at a dinner party, the scandalized whispers cannot be contained. New to the town, Phoebe Hadford hears the condemning rumors and determines to do all she can to help the baron’s oppressed sister. Upon entering Dunsbourne Manor, however, she quickly discovers that all is not what she has been led to believe.

Adam, unsure of whether he can trust the intentions of his beautiful neighbor, is quickly drawn in by Phoebe’s genuine nature. But even as Adam and Phoebe’s connection deepens, a dangerous enemy from Adam’s past reemerges. For years, Adam has hunted for the man who betrayed him, not realizing he had only to wait. His foe has returned, and this time, he will threaten everything Adam cherishes most—including the woman he loves.

I'm just not a huge fan of mysteries, but I have found a love for historical romance. And I always feel like there's a surprising lack of the particular genre releasing that I seem to get hooked on at any one time. So I found myself branching out from historical romance to historical romance/mystery.

Whether I end up enjoying these books as much as I would like or not largely depends on whether the mystery takes over the story and is the focus or if the relationship is. I found that An Alleged Rogue was a good mix of both. I almost didn't make it past the very beginning since the villain narrates, and this tends to be a pet peeve of mine. But his narrations were usually short and the author moved on to the main characters very quickly each time. So I was able to get back into the flow without feeling too jarred.

Another pet peeve of mine is dialect. I do not like to get pulled out of the story over trying to read in a specific dialect. In this case, I suppose I am familiar enough with the dialect used that I didn't slow down because of its use. However, as a general rule, I prefer to avoid these.

Adam was easy to root for. He is working as hard as possible to save his family from financial ruin. He isn't afraid of doing manual labor. And he loves his sister quite fiercely. After being thrust into his responsibilities when his father died, he has neglected Emily's social needs basically because he was in survival mode. Emily didn't seem to mind. But now she is of the age where she needs to embark upon society if she is ever going to have a London season. So he sets about that course of action and kind of stumbles his way through.

Phoebe is all goodness. She cannot but help to assist Emily in her social needs. She befriends her as well as helps guide her through her needs for society such as learning a new dance and having some newer, more modern dresses designed for her. Phoebe's friendship with Emily opens her eyes to the unfair gossip about Adam and she begins to learn of his true character.

Of course, there is the "mystery" or I guess maybe it's not even that. Maybe it's suspense. I'm not sure. But I was on pins and needles during the height of this aspect of the story. I never doubted that the book would have a happy ending, but my goodness, this author had me feeling for Adam so much I could have cried. (I didn't.)

Even though I prefer to stick to stories that don't have this aspect of mystery/suspense to them, I find that An Alleged Rogue was a good mix for me. The relationship-building between Adam and Phoebe is still what drove the rest of the story for me. An Alleged Rogue gets 4 Stars. Have you read An Alleged Rogue? What did you think? Let me know!

Verity - Review

Verity

By: Colleen Hoover

Publication: December 7th 2018 by Hoover Ink, Inc.

397 pages

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--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, releasing December 7th.

Some background including some spoilers for some of Colleen Hoover's previously published books (no spoilers for Verity). I've been reading Colleen Hoover books since I originally saw Slammed available for review on NetGalley and took a chance. I was blown away. And the next couple of books that followed were just as good. (Point of Retreat and Hopeless specifically.) I didn't love Maybe Someday because there's a bit of cheating, and I also felt like Ridge only ended up choosing Sydney when Maggie was no longer an option. For Ugly Love, I didn't like that Tate and Miles built their relationship upon a foundation of friends-with-benefits. Yet the formatting of this book was beautiful. I did really enjoy Confess. I'm still not sure how I feel about the story elements of It Ends With Us despite a 5 Star review. I cried so that boosted my rating. But there were several pieces I just felt iffy about. Without Merit has been by far my least favorite Colleen Hoover book. I didn't like any of the characters, but specifically, I didn't like Merit. So it's hard to root for a character or a relationship when one of the characters isn't likable. All Your Perfects was good, but I felt like the letters at the end covered a bit too much ground. And here we are at Verity.

I always try to avoid spoilers or reviews before picking up a book. But being a member of Colleen Hoover's CoHorts on Facebook inundated me with post after post about how great Verity was, how "twisted", etc. I couldn't really avoid seeing these posts. And I feel like seeing so much of this really boosted my expectations. Plus I mean Colleen Hoover. That being said, I started this book with extremely high expectations as well as fear and paranoia concerning the twistedness of the book and characters. In the end, I felt a little letdown. Let me try to explain without spoiling anything.

Lowen and Jeremy meet at the scene of an auto versus pedestrian accident in New York City. Obviously shaken by the events Lowen needs a moment to compose herself and Jeremy steps in to help at that moment. As fate would have it, Lowen and Jeremy were headed to the same meeting where Jeremy and his wife Verity's publishing company would be attempting to contract Lowen to write the remaining three books in Verity's popular suspense/thriller book series. Due to Lowen's financial situation, she's also about to be homeless and agrees to visit the Crawford home in hopes of finding some outlines and research Verity might have concerning her plans for the remaining three books in the series. As the description says, while sorting through Verity's office, Lowen finds an autobiographical manuscript written by Verity. And here's where the twisted bits come into play.

Verity's manuscript will make you cringe. It will make you angry--furious. It will make you cry (possibly...I didn't, but I can see how someone might). It will make you want to vomit. It will make you want to hug any and every child you might see passing by on the street--especially your own children should you have any. How a person could be so callous and devoid of proper emotion is just beyond believable. Yet these people do exist. I hate to think that these people exist, but they do. With every chapter that Lowen reads, it got worse. And worse. I was even telling my husband about it after I finished the book and his words were "I want to vomit." This is truly the worst part of the book. The manuscript. And well one more part...but spoilers you know.

I don't want to spoil anything so I'm trying to be vague. But I guess I'd built things up so much that my imagination was worse than the truth. I expected a serial killer in the wife or the husband or a combo-couple team. I expected more scariness I guess. There were a few moments that were creepy and chilling no doubt. But my imagination got the better of me I guess. I think part of that is due to not being able to read Verity immediately upon release and form my own thoughts before the opinions of others started pouring out. But real life prevented me from reading sooner.

There's a twist at the end that has caused some debate, but it was intended to do so. I won't say more than that it comes in the form of a long, detailed letter. And while I don't want to discuss the contents of the letter, I do want to discuss that this seems to be a repetitive plot point through several of Colleen Hoover's books. I specifically mentioned the letters from All Your Perfects earlier. I know there have been other letters too, Slammed/Point of Retreat had them, It Ends With Us, probably others. But I feel like it just ties things up in a bow too nicely. The letters cover too wide a range of topics in an attempt to address all of the pieces and sometimes cover up holes in the story. I don't doubt Colleen Hoover has things planned from the beginning to end and even if she didn't in the first draft, but the time the manuscript goes through several passes of editing, she knows how it'll all end. And this means that sometimes decisions are made that lead the reader and characters in one direction, but then a nicely worded letter toward the end of the book is supposed to redirect us. It's hard to explain without getting into specifics or spoilers. Regardless, I hope CoHo decides to re-evaluate using this as a tool for her future books.

Favorite quotes:

-Caring for your body is no different from caring for a child. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it sucks, sometimes you just want to give in, but if you do, you'll pay for the consequences eighteen years down the road.

-If an attraction is present between two people, those two people can only be one of two things. Involved or not involved. There is no in-between.

I don't read suspense/mystery/thrillers often. There's a reason for that. The night after reading the first 50% of the book I didn't sleep well. I was paranoid about what was to come. Of course, I found that my imagination was worse than what the book included (in terms of what would happen to Lowen). Verity will still go down as the most disturbing book I've read in 2018 with one of the most memorable characters (Verity herself). I took issue with a few other things (the frequency of the f-bomb and the frequency of descriptive scenes, as well as a moral repulsion to some things discussed within the book). Verity wasn't a perfect book for me. I can't say I'll ever want to re-read it. But due to the experience and emotions, I felt while reading Verity, it deserves 4 Stars. Have you read Verity? What did you think? Let me know!

Keep Her Safe - Review

Keep Her Safe

By: KA Tucker

Expected Publication: January 23rd 2018 by Atria Books

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her “propulsive plot twists and searing seduction” (USA TODAY).

Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that's been rattling in her closet for years, and succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family's life. Reeling with grief, Noah is forced to carry the burden of this shocking secret.

Gracie Richards wasn't born in a trailer park, but after fourteen years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it's all she knows anymore. At least here people don't care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop, murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. Here, she and her mother are just another family struggling to survive...until a man who clearly doesn't belong shows up on her doorstep.

Despite their differences, Noah and Gracie are searching for answers to the same questions, and together, they set out to uncover the truth about the Austin Police Department's dark and messy past. But the scandal that emerges is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.

Complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling, Keep Her Safe solidifies K.A. Tucker's reputation as one of today's most talented new voices in romantic suspense.

Keep Her Safe is told from altering points of view mostly between Noah and Gracie in the present but also between Noah's mother, Jackie, and Gracie's father, Abraham. These points of view also jump around in time. This is usually something that I dislike in books. Despite most authors having a legit reason to write this way, I still struggle. I don't enjoy jumping around and any time the story moved to the past I found myself putting Keep Her Safe down because the past wasn't as interesting to me as the present. Of course, KA Tucker does have a legit reason for presenting her story in this way, so it all made sense in the end. But I still needed to mention that this is something that I struggled with and don't usually enjoy.

I thought I would dislike Gracie more than I did. She started the book with some serious attitude. It's understandable given everything that she's been through and the circumstances that she's currently living in. I can even see myself responding to life and others in a very similar way as Gracie does due to her experiences. Noah was easy for me to like. I felt so bad for him given where he begins the book and the things he learns about his family throughout the story. He was a genuine, stand-up guy and I couldn't find anything that I really disliked about him. I appreciated the slow build between Gracie and Noah considering her trust issues. And I really enjoyed that KA Tucker kept the physical scenes pretty non-descriptive and to a minimum in frequency.

While I didn't predict all of the ins and outs of the story and mystery behind everything that went on between Jackie and Abraham in the past or how Betsy fit into the picture, I did easily pick out the main villain of Keep Her Safe pretty early on in the story. Now I will say that KA Tucker kept throwing things in there that made me doubt what I thought to be true, but I was never fully swayed from my thoughts. Turns out I was right.

Keep Her Safe was an easy and fast read that I kept wanting to come back to, except the sections written in the past that I found easy to put down. While I didn't predict everything, I did nail two pretty big details that should have been surprises. Ultimately, I enjoyed this read, but I can't imagine that Keep Her Safe will be one that I remember much about in say a year or two. Keep Her Safe gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Keep Her Safe? What did you think? Let me know!

The Sound of Light - DNF Review

The Sound of Light

By: Claire Wallis

Published: July 17, 2017 by Claire Wallis

320 pages

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

( Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--My littlest girl has always been a bit peculiar. It was nothing I could ever put a finger on, but I always knew there was something inside her that made her a different kind of special. A deeper kind.

K'acy's got a light around her, one that'll just about knock you over, especially if you don't see her coming. She's got music in her soul, too. Deep, resonating music that echoes and hums, just like the notes that come from the bass guitar she's had attached to her hip since the day she turned thirteen years old.

She's got a hell of a secret, yes, but she does what she's got to do to make it one worth having. She takes care of people. She changes their stories. I spent my life telling both of my girls that you always gotta do what's right, even when it hurts, and it makes me proud to know she was listening.

I saw the way she looked at that boy on the day they met, and I knew right then that things were going to change. Two different people from two different worlds is nothing but a recipe for heartbreak, and when the lies pile higher and higher, it can change a person into something they're not.

It took me dying all those years ago to finally figure out just exactly how special my K'acy really is, and even though I'm not with her anymore, I don't want that boy and his family to change her. I want her to keep doing what's right, even when it hurts.

Because that's who she is inside. That's her deeper kind of special.

**This stand-alone novel from Claire Wallis is intended for readers age 17 and up.**

DNF @ 44% - Warning...I might get a little "preachy" on this one.

I really loved Claire Wallis's PUSH series. And so when she contacted me about reading and reviewing The Sound of Light I jumped at the chance even though the description was a bit vague for my normal tastes. Well Holly got a chance to pick it up and start reading The Sound of Light before I did so I asked her how she was enjoying it and her response was that it was a little slow and she wasn't hooked into it yet. And then a week or so passed and I noticed that she'd not marked it as finished on Goodreads yet so I asked her again about it and she said she was still struggling to connect to the romance and some other issues. So I was a bit discouraged and put off picking up The Sound of Light for even longer than I intended. The main reason is that I just don't have the time to read that I would like and so when I hear the word "slow" associated with a book I really have to evaluate whether it is worth me looking into or not. I finally picked it up. And yeah I found myself struggling as well.

The very first issue I had (which Holly had also warned me about) was the swapping narrators. This isn't always an issue for me. Typically if there are only two narrators who follow the same story in the same chronology then I'm fine. But that's not the case here. K'acy is the main narrator, but occasionally there are chapters from her dad's POV as well as chapters written from the POV of different deceased characters who used to live at the nursing home where K'acy works. I really find that books that jump around chronologically aren't my favorite so this was the first thing that bothered me about The Sound of Light.

Also, I found myself battling my feelings for K'acy in general as character. She plays bass guitar--which I don't care much for except for how it fits within the whole of a great band--for a funk band--which I don't have any connection to as I don't listen to this type of music. I could appreciate the uniqueness that these two facts bring to her character, but it made no connection with me on a personal level. K'acy also comes from a split family. Her mother left when she was young for a "preacher" of what sounds very much like a cult. Because K'acy's mother was religious, K'acy seems to have taken a negative view toward God. Her attitude was much like "how could God allow His children to suffer and die." Or something to that extent. So I couldn't connect to her in this way either considering my Christian background. I'll discuss this more in detail later. K'acy also subscribes to the philosophy that all people "deserve the best life." Despite their actions and how they've lived their lives apparently. And this is yet another philosophy that I personally can't agree with. Again...I'll discuss this in more detail in a bit. And then there's one final kicker that's a huge spoiler that I'll discuss in a hidden paragraph that K'acy also believes in that I couldn't support.

K'acy's struggle with God is not a unique one. Many people wonder how God could allow His creation to suffer. Yet what people don't understand is that this world wasn't created as it is. This world was perfect. God gave us free choice because of His love for us. But that free choice allows us to choose against Him. And that's how and where sin entered into the picture. Because God allows us to choose what isn't good for us bad things happen. And we chose and continue to choose against Him time and time again. And yet we want to shake our fists and blame Him for dealing with the consequences of our own choices. Sure there are things that happen in life that we didn't necessarily choose--like a loved one getting cancer or a car accident--but ultimately all the bad boils down to is our path away from God. God even loved us to the point of sending His own Son to die for us so that He could redeem us back to Himself. So He could buy us back from our sin. But we still reject Him. We still blame Him. We still want to accuse Him of being unloving. So I really struggled with K'acy's attitude toward God. Especially because when it boils down to it, God didn't make K'acy's mom leave her family. He didn't "tell" her to do it. Yet that's really what she's mad at Him about.

In a similar vein, K'acy keeps talking about how her dad taught her that everyone "deserves the best life." And I'm sorry but that's bull. There's nothing I've done in my life that could possibly earn me a free pass from all the bad things. There's nothing that I've done that could earn me a pass from death or suffering. I sure haven't been so good that I earned it. I've messed up. I've lied. I've cheated. I've stolen. I've not been what I should be. I don't deserve any good thing. What is good that I have is a blessing and a gift from God because of His great love for me and because of His grace and mercy. One of the deceased patients that narrates basically explains how he raped his secretary to show her that he was dominant over her--that women were less than. And yet he discusses how K'acy was there for him in the end and how she treated him like she cared. And who knows...maybe K'acy's "gift" doesn't allow her to see a person's past or what that person truly is deep inside, but I found myself completely annoyed that K'acy could offer him grace, compassion, and forgiveness that she can't extend to God--despite God not really needing those things from her. God hasn't wronged any of us. Yet this man was a rapist. And she can find it in herself to give him what she cannot give God? I don't buy it. And at the very least, her thought process is flawed.

SPOILER (highlight to view): The deal breaker for me was that I was starting to piece together some clues about K'acy and what exactly she was using her "gift" for. And so I texted Holly and asked if K'acy was killing the people she sees are going to die. Normally I don't ask questions like this. And normally Holly wouldn't answer so she asked "are you sure you want to know?" And I was like "yes, I really want to know." And she replied that yes essentially K'acy is killing the patients that ask her for help. And I'm sorry, but I can't agree with assisted suicide. I just can't. And so I asked myself if I wanted to continue to read a book where the character obviously fully believed in her philosophy, and the answer was a resounding NO. I don't care to read a character continue to try to justify this. I realize that this might not be such a black and white topic for some, but I have a firm stance on this subject. End spoiler.

All of these factors but especially the one in the spoiler left me with the undeniable decision to put down The Sound of Light. The narration and chronology jumps. The bass guitar for a funk band. The contempt toward God yet utter blind forgiveness for flawed man. The spoiler I can't support. It just told me that this isn't the book for me. And IF I had continued reading and not much changed, I'd be looking at a 1 or 2 Star rating at best. I truly hate that I felt this way because I've enjoyed Claire Wallis's writing in the past, and even the writing itself was at times beautiful in The Sound of Light, but I just don't have the time or the inclination to continue to read something that I'm not enjoying anymore. Have you read The Sound of Light? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Keep Her Safe

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Keep Her Safe

By: KA Tucker

Expected Publication: January 2nd 2018 by Atria Books

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Romance, Suspense

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her “propulsive plot twists and searing seduction” (USA TODAY).

Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that's been rattling in her closet for years, and succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family's life. Reeling with grief, Noah is forced to carry the burden of this shocking secret.

Gracie Richards wasn't born in a trailer park, but after fourteen years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it's all she knows anymore. At least here people don't care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop, murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. Here, she and her mother are just another family struggling to survive...until a man who clearly doesn't belong shows up on her doorstep.

Despite their differences, Noah and Gracie are searching for answers to the same questions, and together, they set out to uncover the truth about the Austin Police Department's dark and messy past. But the scandal that emerges is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.

Complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling, Keep Her Safe solidifies K.A. Tucker's reputation as one of today's most talented new voices in romantic suspense.

I've really enjoyed KA Tucker in the past, and I'm excited that she's branching out more and more into suspense. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Cover Reveal - The Sound of Light by Claire Wallis

The Sound of Light

By: Claire Wallis

Expected Publication: July 17, 2017

320 pages

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

( Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--My littlest girl has always been a bit peculiar. It was nothing I could ever put a finger on, but I always knew there was something inside her that made her a different kind of special. A deeper kind.

K'acy's got a light around her, one that'll just about knock you over, especially if you don't see her coming. She's got music in her soul, too. Deep, resonating music that echoes and hums, just like the notes that come from the bass guitar she's had attached to her hip since the day she turned thirteen years old.

She's got a hell of a secret, yes, but she does what she's got to do to make it one worth having. She takes care of people. She changes their stories. I spent my life telling both of my girls that you always gotta do what's right, even when it hurts, and it makes me proud to know she was listening.

I saw the way she looked at that boy on the day they met, and I knew right then that things were going to change. Two different people from two different worlds is nothing but a recipe for heartbreak, and when the lies pile higher and higher, it can change a person into something they're not.

It took me dying all those years ago to finally figure out just exactly how special my K'acy really is, and even though I'm not with her anymore, I don't want that boy and his family to change her. I want her to keep doing what's right, even when it hurts.

Because that's who she is inside. That's her deeper kind of special.

**This stand-alone novel from Claire Wallis is intended for readers age 17 and up.**

** Release Date: July 17th, 2017 ** THE SOUND OF LIGHT will be released in print format via Amazon and in digital format from Amazon, Nook, iBooks, and Kobo. The e-book should be available for pre-order on Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes today!!!

You can sign up for Claire Wallis's newsletter where you can receive bonus book teasers, stories, and information about her books. Also, check out her website: www.clairewallis.com.

Waiting on When I Am Through With You

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

When I Am Through With You

By: Stephanie Kuehn

Expected Publication: August 1st 2017 by Dutton Books for Young Readers

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Suspense

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--“This isn’t meant to be a confession. Not in any spiritual sense of the word. Yes, I’m in jail at the moment. I imagine I’ll be here for a long time, considering. But I’m not writing this down for absolution and I’m not seeking forgiveness, not even from myself. Because I’m not sorry for what I did to Rose. I’m just not. Not for any of it.”

Ben Gibson is many things, but he’s not sorry and he’s not a liar. He will tell you exactly about what happened on what started as a simple school camping trip in the mountains. About who lived and who died. About who killed and who had the best of intentions. But he’s going to tell you in his own time. Because after what happened on that mountain, time is the one thing he has plenty of.

I don't read a ton of thriller/suspense books, but this is one I could make an exception for based on this description. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Never Never Part 2 - Review

Never Never Part 2 (Never Never, # 2)

By: Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher

Published: May 17th 2015 by Hoover Ink

104 pages

Genre: Young Adult/New Adult, Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--New York Times bestselling authors Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher are back with the much-anticipated, nail-biting sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Never, Never.

“Never forget that I was your first real kiss. Never forget that you’ll be my last.
And never stop loving me between all of them.
Never stop, Charlie.
Never forget.”

Silas races against time as more truths unravel, while others twist tighter together. And now, the stakes are higher as Silas’ control slips and others begin to point fingers. Charlie is in trouble and he must be the one to bridge the chasm between their past and their present. Because somewhere between I love yous and Never Nevers and Never Agains, a truth they can't imagine, beckons to be found.

“Where are you, Charlie?”

I realize that the reason why this series has been broken down into bits and pieces like it has is because of a contractual thing. But man am I glad that books aren’t published like this on the regular. Never Never (Part 1) left off with a huge cliffhanger. Just as Silas is really putting the pieces together the memory relapse comes upon them again. Charlie is missing and we have no idea where she is or how Silas is going to find her and explain to her what’s happening since they’re separated.

Even though Part 1 released only a few months ago, I’d still forgotten a lot of information that happened in Part 1 so I feel like a few pieces weren’t clicking with me like maybe they should have while reading Part 2. Speaking of forgetting a lot of information, as the reader knowing more than Silas does and having experienced a prior memory relapse with him, it wasn’t as fun to go through the very beginning of his research as it was the first time. Considering Part 2 ended in another cliffhanger (though not as brutal as the first), I’m a little concerned about having to go through the discovery process for a third time with the characters in Part 3.

I wasn’t really interested in Charlie’s part of the story at all in Part 2. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty sure her piece was crucial to figuring out who’s behind their memory lapses and why, but there was really just a lot more down time with her. As she was separated from Silas and he was progressing a bit more in the discovery process than she was, Charlie’s chapters were less interesting.

Slightly over 100 pages, Part 2 flew by. It was easy to see fairly early on that pages were passing much quicker than answers were received, so by the time I got to the end and it said again “To be continued…” I wasn’t surprised. 48 hours is not a lot of time to research something so big as well as trying to remember who you are. There were a few differences between the memory lapse of Part 1 and the memory lapse of Part 2, so I’m interested to see what (if any) changes will be involved with Part 3.

All in all, there’s still a lot to uncover, and I truthfully wouldn’t be surprised if there’s ultimately a Part 4 as well. Part 2 wasn’t as exciting to me as Part 1 since some of the story felt like a repeat and because Charlie’s parts were somewhat uneventful. I did reconnect with the romance even though I wish the two had been able to spend more time together. I guess I relate this to how a trilogy normally works—book 1 is the build up and the excitement, book 2 is the lull and progression of information, and then book 3 (hopefully) is the exciting climax and satisfying resolution. As I typically feel with trilogies, Part 2 wasn’t my favorite. I’d give Never Never Part 2 3.5 Stars. It was good. I’m still intrigued, but it wasn’t as good as Part 1. Have you read Never Never Part 2? What did you think? Let me know! *Also, if you haven't read part 2 yet, I might suggest waiting until Part 3 releases before picking it up.

DNF Review - Vanishing Girls

Vanishing Girls

By: Lauren Oliver

Published: March 3rd 2015 by HarperCollins

358 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Suspense

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

DNF’d @ 25%

Let me start this DNF review by saying up front that I have been in a reading slump. February was a slow reading month for me, and March was too. So far, April has been better, but not off to the best start. I started reading Vanishing Girls in February. By February 9th I’d read roughly 12%. At this point, I just wasn’t “hooked” into the story so I put it aside for a while. I loved Delirium. I really enjoyed Before I Fall. But my other experiences with Lauren Oliver’s writing have all been mediocre. I wasn’t blown away with Pandemonium or Requiem, and my experience with Panic was that the idea for the story was better in theory than execution. So while I’ve really enjoyed some of Lauren Oliver’s past work, I’ve also had some experiences that were underwhelming as well. I wanted to like this book, and I don’t think my mood contributed too much to my initial impression of Vanishing Girls because I feel like this book is part of what started my reading slump rather than the slump really affecting my feelings toward the book.

I liked that the description of Vanishing Girls gave this book a more mysterious and suspenseful air than I normally read. And I really loved the letter from Lauren Oliver at the beginning of the copy I received discussing how this book was the first time she’d ever really explored the sibling dynamic. Having a sister myself I thought that this story might be one that I would be able to connect to easily.

That being said, April rolls around and I haven’t made much progress on Vanishing Girls, but I feel the pressure because it’s a review book and I'm already outside of 30 days of the publication date. I need to get this read and reviewed. So I decide to just try to force myself. I’ll do it 5 or 10% at a time if I have to. Read 5-10% in Vanishing Girls, if I’m still not feeling it then put it down and read something else. But the further I prodded along, the more frustrated I found myself.

Here are my issues. First of all, this story isn’t told chronologically. It’s flips to the past and back to the present and there are dates thrown in at chapter headings that I’m sure I was supposed to keep up with that were meaningful, but I couldn’t keep track. Though occasionally I’ll find a book that jumps around chronologically that I still enjoy, typically this is a source of frustration for me because I feel like I’m following one storyline only to get yanked from it and put into a different storyline.

Second, Vanishing Girls doesn’t only jump around chronologically, but it also swaps narrators. Normally multiple narrators aren’t an issue for me. I usually enjoy being able to get inside multiple heads and see the story from different angles (as long as there are too many narrators). But in this case it did. I didn’t enjoy Dara’s narrations which leads me into my next point.

Lauren Oliver said she delved deep into the sibling dynamic. Well that may be true, but so far all I saw was sibling rivalry (I’m sure this changes some as Nick seeks to find Dara, but I just couldn’t get there). Nick is what both sister would describe as being a good girl. She’s a rules follower. She worries about Dara because Dara’s well…not. And you can see that there’s some resentment on her side because Dara starts dating Nick’s best friend and various other issues. Dara is the wild sibling. She wears lots of makeup and skimpy clothes. She drinks. She swears. And she generally rebels when possible. Dara, of course, has resentment for Nick too because Nick is “the perfect” sister. I just didn’t enjoy this dynamic. While that’s authentic and real, it put me in a situation of really not liking Dara very much. Maybe because I relate more to Nick. But I just found myself resenting Dara as Nick does—especially since Nick had more narrations within the 25% that I read—which made reading Dara’s narrations even more painful/frustrating.

Also, the description mentions an accident that leaves Dara and Nick estranged. Apparently before the accident they did everything together—even though they are such different people and already had some resentment towards each other. So this accident is hinted at and mentioned, but even at 25% you don’t really have any information about what happened. I know that this was intended to build suspense and curiosity and get the reader interested and invested. But for me…it just didn’t. Because of the other frustrations I already mentioned, the things that were supposed to make me curious and want to dig deeper just ended up frustrating me and had me wanting to put this one down. Eventually, at 25% that’s what I decided to do.

So all in all, I feel like Vanishing Girls started my reading slump. I didn’t enjoy the jumps on chronology. Even though I typically like multiple narrations, I struggled with connecting to Dara’s character and therefore struggled through her narrations. And the events intended to create suspense only served to further my frustration. I truly hated to DNF this one because I’ve enjoyed Lauren Oliver’s writing in the past, but I can’t tell you the relief and the weight off my shoulders that I felt once I made the decision to do so. This just wasn't the book for me. Have you read Vanishing Girls? What did you think? Let me know!

Waiting on Vanishing Girls

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Vanishing Girls

By: Lauren Oliver

Expected Publication: March 3rd 2015 by HarperCollins

358 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Suspense

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver delivers a gripping story about two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident.

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.

In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.

Lauren Oliver is on my must read list. Anything she writes. Everything she writes. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Pull - Review

Pull (Push, # 2)

By: Claire Wallis

Expected Publication: November 6th 2014

240 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery

Source: Author (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon $2.99 )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaway for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Description--***PULL is the continuation of Claire Wallis' sharp and shocking debut novel, PUSH. It is the second book in the series and is not intended to be a standalone.***

"It is impossible for someone like me—someone with a sin-list capable of wrapping itself around the world—to find redemption. To be repaired."

David Calgaro has secrets, and the only woman he's ever loved is about to pay the ultimate price to protect them. He's spent a lifetime searching for purpose and control. And the only place he's managed to find them is in a single, perfect moment; a moment in which he has absolute control over someone else's life.

David is unredeemable, unfixable, unsalvageable. But Emma Searfoss has forced a tiny sliver of hope to penetrate his soul. Hope that, even though redemption is impossible, maybe life isn't. Maybe he isn't who he thought he was. Maybe he's meant to be more.

This is a new adult novel with mature content for readers 17 and up.

***Please don’t read further if you’ve not read PUSH by Claire Wallis.***

Pull is a book that I have been EAGERLY awaiting since April of this year. I read Push by Claire Wallis in April and was so happy with the experience. Push was so much more than I expected it to be when I read the description on NetGalley and decided to take a chance and request it. I’m so glad that I did. Those who’ve read Push know what a massive cliffhanger bridge-jumper Claire Wallis left us hanging with. Apparently there’s a whole class of readers that hate cliffhangers, but I’m not one of them. Cliffhangers just make me that much more anxious to continue with a series. And man, I would have been angry had Pull not been written. I still would have thought Push was a good book. So all of that just means I was anxious to get my hands on Pull and find out what happens next to Emma and David.

I wasn’t sure how Emma and David would move forward from that epic end to Push. How can a girl allow herself to be talked into jumping off a bridge, realizing that she’s not the first girl to be put in this exact same situation, continue a relationship with the guy who talked her right off the bridge? How in the world would they move forward? How would David redeem himself? But I really think Claire Wallis handled this brilliantly. Essentially, we get more information at the beginning of Pull that we didn’t have with the end of Push. I didn’t remember all the details of Push that I wish I did. A re-read before starting Pull might have been better for me, but I just couldn’t wait to find out what happens next.

Pull really comes down to just that….redemption, forgiveness, compassion. Is it possible for David to be redeemed? A guy who either talked or pushed multiple girls to their deaths. Is it possible for him to find forgiveness? Is it possible for him to be worth redemption? And if so…how? Obviously, there is no doubt that David has done some terrible things.

In Push periodically there would be a flashback narrated by one of the girls that David dated, but in Pull we get these events from David’s perspective. We also get some general flashbacks of David’s life since his mother’s suicide. I always kind of sigh when I get to these because jumps in chronology aren’t really my favorite, but Claire Wallis did me a solid in keeping these sections fairly short. I never felt like putting the book down because I knew I would read through those sections fairly quickly. In addition to the flashbacks, we also have a new narrator. Both Emma and David narrate in Pull, like Push, but Matt also narrates. I wasn’t sure in the beginning what that would mean for the story, but Matt offers a unique perspective of at least two crucial events.

I never had a problem connecting to David in Push. I paid particular attention to the wording Claire Wallis used in the flashbacks versus events in the present with Emma, and it was easy to see that things with Emma were different for David. But because Pull exposes David’s thoughts during the past, I found myself understanding him even more. Obviously, I don’t agree with his coping mechanisms. Bad crap happens to people daily, and you can’t go pushing people off bridges to make yourself feel better, but David was a more complex character than I think I even realized while reading Push.

Since I said Pull is a story about redemption and whether it’s possible or not even though Emma was such a large part of this story, Pull is about David. Really the whole series might be. I loved Emma though. She’s so confident in herself, in David, and in their relationship. It’s such a different place than I expected her to be in considering the ending of Push. I loved seeing her step up and take the control that David cherishes so much away from him.

I don’t want to spoil even the slightest bit of this experience for any reader. I highly recommend these two books. But 90% of what I want to talk about revolves around the ending of Pull. Claire Wallis has a thing for endings man. I’m not sure that readers everywhere will love how David and Emma’s story wraps up. But I personally feel like this was the best—and only—possible ending to David and Emma’s story.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t draw attention to the warning in the description. Both Push and Pull have no lack of f-bombs as well as physical situations. I almost feel like Push had the more graphic scenes out of both books. So if Push didn’t bother your comfort level then you should be good to go on Pull as well.

I’m so glad that Claire Wallis, the Push series, and David & Emma have come into my life. Pull easily gets 4 Stars from me. I can’t wait to read more from Claire Wallis in the future. Have you read Pull? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Blood of My Blood

Blood of My Blood (Jasper Dent, # 3)

By: Barry Lyga

Published: September 9th 2014 by Little, Brown

464 pages

Genre: YA, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Crime

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Jazz Dent has been shot and left to die in New York City. His girlfriend Connie is in the clutches of Jazz's serial killer father, Billy. And his best friend Howie is bleeding to death on the floor of Jazz's own home in tiny Lobo's Nod. Somehow, these three must rise above the horrors their lives have become and find a way to come together in pursuit of Billy. But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son?" Who is the true monster?

The chase is on, and beyond Billy there lurks something much, much worse. Prepare to meet...the Crow King.

In my review of Game (Jasper Dent, # 2), I said that since Game ends in a 3-way cliffhanger I would suggest having Blood of My Blood ready for you to pick up immediately upon finishing Game, but I’ve decided that I want to recant that statement. At this point, I suggest giving yourself a day or two to digest and rest before picking up Blood of My Blood. And I say that because Blood of My Blood is action-packed from start to finish in an great but exhausting way. Blood of My Blood does pick up exactly where Game left off, but so much happens in this book that you might just need a few days to gather yourself before really stepping in the brilliant madness that is Blood of My Blood.

Discussing briefly where Game ended, Jazz has been shot and left for dead by Hat in the storage unit. Connie has been captured by Billy. And Howie pulled a gun on Jasper’s aunt, Samantha, which backfired on him and he was knocked unconscious. It’s almost difficult for me to even discuss those things like that’s where Blood of My Blood began because it feels like six books ago that all of that happened compared to where things ended. I will say that if you felt sorry for Jasper, for his upbringing, for what he’s witnessed, for what he’s experienced, and for what he’s terrified of becoming…up until now…well you have no idea. There is so much I want to say, but all I’ll allow myself to say is that Jasper’s upbringing, his experiences, what he’s been through is so much more evil and twisted and wicked than I even imagined—and growing up witnessing torture and murder over and over again is pretty hard to imagine.

Where I Hunt Killers and Game had frequent appearances of the secondary characters, Blood of My Blood is so much more heavily focused on Jasper, Billy, and Jasper’s mom (who we found out in Game is still alive). The side characters, Connie, Howie, G. William, and Hughes make repeated appearances and even narrate occasionally, but nothing like the previous two books. I missed them, but Blood of My Blood is about Jasper and his family unit above all else. Jasper knows that he’s the only one who can stop his father, because it’s taken the police 20 years and they still haven’t captured Billy Dent, but also because Jasper knows how Billy thinks. And Billy wants Jasper to find him.

My heart broke for Jasper over and over and over again throughout this series, but most frequently throughout this book. Every single time I would think he could handle no more, something else was thrown at him. Something else was worth grieving over. Something else was taken away from him. But at the same time, neither I nor Jasper really had time to process any of it due to the speed and pacing of the events.

I will say that Jasper fits into that category of heroes that have literally been beaten to a pulp, put through the wringer and yet continues to press on above and beyond all natural possibilities. Jasper shouldn’t have been able to stand after everything he’d been through. All of that was a stretch on reality, but the body is capable of extremes beyond what we can imagine when put to the test.

Favorite quotes:

-“Hush, Daddy’s thinkin’.”

-“…I’m the only one who can do what needs to be done.” What needs to be done. Five simple words. Monosyllables. Nothing exceptional or special about them. But when Jazz strung them together, polychromatic spatters erupted behind Connie’s closed eyelids. “You can’t kill him.” She hated herself for saying it. Days ago, before she’d ever met the man, she had fantasized Billy Dent’s death. She lusted for it even more deeply now. But not at the expense of Jazz.

-“Remember what I told you before? If you kill him, he wins.” “And I told you: If I kill him, he’s dead.”

-“…The cops will come to you eventually. It’s better if you can’t tell them anything.” “I wouldn’t squeal on you.” Howie pouted, even though Jazz couldn’t see him. “Yes, you would.” “I totally would,” Howie admitted. “I’m weak. I lack character, Jazz. That’s my problem. That’s always been my problem. I blame my mother. For coddling me.” He thought for a second. “And I guess for carrying the hemophilia gene in the first place, too.”

-“You’ve fulfilled your service. Your utility is at an end. Pawns are always sacrificed before the game’s end. When we next meet, you will witness your last vista, hear your last cry, weep your last tears. You will take your last breath.”…”When you die, […], it will be ugly. I promise you that. And I also promise you that I will be a little sad at that moment. But only a little bit.”

-It was like playing checkers, only to learn that your opponent was playing chess all along.

-What happens to the sidekick when the good guys goes off the rails?

-”There isn’t enough space on your body for the tattoos, man.” Jazz shook his head. “We’re not trading here. This isn’t I do something for you, you do something for me. This is hard-core friendship. Varsity level. This is me asking you to do something for me without getting anything in return. This is friendship, Howie.” … “You just have to ask yourself, Howie: Do you need to be repaid or not?” Every piece of him cried out to say yes, to demand that in return for what he had done and would do that Jazz give up now and live.

Blood of My Blood and the entire Jasper Dent series is brilliant. It’s madness. It’s heartbreaking. It’s stomach churning. It’s not for the faint at heart. And it’s not for those who like happy little books, with pretty little endings. Now, I’m not commenting on the ending at all. Just know that overall, this book and this series has exceeded my expectations in every way. Blood of My Blood gets 5 Stars from me. Have you read Blood of My Blood? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween Review - Game

Game (Jasper Dent, # 2)

By: Barry Lyga

Published: April 16th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

520 pages

Genre: YA, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Crime

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Billy grinned. “Oh, New York,” he whispered. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”

I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history’s most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent.

In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.

What to say? What to say? If I Hunt Killers is the Dexter of the Jasper Dent series then Game is The Following of the series. We know that I Hunt Killers ended with Japer’s father, Billy, breaking out of prison. We know that he had to have help in his escape. And so we know that Billy possibly has a fan club like Joe Carol from The Following even if Billy’s helpers are not essentially a cult.

Game, itself, felt like a much slower book than I Hunt Killers. With coming in over 500 pages, I’m not really surprised that Game felt like a longer and slower book; however, it was more than just length. The pacing really was much slower. And even when I was completely interesting in figuring out what was going on and knowing what was going to happen next, Game still felt like an easy book to put down.

The characters that I fell in love with so much from I Hunt Killers were present: Jasper, Connie, and Howie essentially. But even Billy is such a charismatic character that while knowing he’s utterly evil, I can’t help but enjoy his presence in the book when he’s actually present, in Jasper’s memories of him, and in the running Billy-commentary that Jasper has going on in his head. Jasper’s so real as a character. He still battles wondering if he’s going to snap and turn into his father at any moment. He’s still haunted by his memories, his past, and his potential. Connie is as supportive as ever—maybe even more so in Game than in I Hunt Killers. I don’t remember any sections of I Hunt Killers being narrated by Connie so that was a nice addition to Game. And I loved her faith in Jasper, her love for him, and her willingness to do just about anything for him—even taking on--or possibly leaving--her family. However, Connie had several parts where I wanted to smack her in the head and tell her that she was being reckless and stupid. Howie wasn’t as present as I wanted him to be, yet there were plenty of parts that had me chuckling to myself. Howie brings the humor to this book and this series. He keeps things from getting too intense with his typical teenage boyness and his struggles with his hemophilia.

As far as plot goes, I felt like Game was pretty brilliant. In some aspects, I had certain things figured out WAY in advance, but other things took me a while to piece together. I felt both really smart for figuring some pieces out and really stupid for missing some things that now feel more obvious. I think that might have been exactly the way Barry Lyga planned this book. You don’t want to completely frustrate the reader, but there has to be something they don’t get at the same time because being too predictable is the worst. I highly enjoyed the plot for Game and how it appears to play into the overall plot of the series. Yet as I mentioned earlier, the pacing was a bit slow.

I feel like it’s worth noting because apparently some readers HATE this, but Game ends in like a three-way cliffhanger. The reader is uncertain of every single character and what’s going to happen next with our favorite ones. But I’ve already started Blood of My Blood and it picks up immediately where Game leaves off so no worries there. I would just suggest perhaps making sure you have Blood of My Blood available to dive right in as soon as you finish Game.

My favorite quotes:

-“…I never met Mrs. Dent, but I know she must have been a good person because I’m pretty sure Billy Dent didn’t raise Jasper to rescue helpless hemophiliacs from bullies.”

-“Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been thinkin’ that someday you’re gonna crack and end up like your daddy. And you’ve been looking for proof that you won’t. What you don’t realize is this: The lookin’ is the proof.”

-He figured he cut a pretty dashing figure in his jeans and heavy shirt. And gloves. And hat. Not like a page out of a catalog or anything, but it showed how he thought ahead. He was prepared. Women dug guys who were prepared.

-“Howie, you’re the same age as my nephew.”
”Actually, I’m six weeks older.”
She shook her head. “It’s not going to happen.”
”You say that now.”
”I do.”
”We’re both two lonely people,” Howie said seductively, “trapped in a world created by Billy Dent.”
Samantha howled with laughter. Howie figured that wasn’t a good sign.

-“Dude! You hit on my aunt!”
”That depends on how you define ‘hit on.’”
”You totally hit on my aunt.”
”Was that wrong? Was I not supposed to do that?”
”You should think about what you just said. Think about it, Howie.”
”I’m just not seeing where I went wrong. For an older woman, she’s got a nice body, and she must moisturize like a mofo because her skin is—“

-“Watch it. That’s the mother of my illegitimate children you’re talking about.”

Also, I feel like it should be noted that I normally hate dialect, but I rarely even noticed it in either I Hunt Killers or Game. As a matter of fact, Barry Lyga did dialogue so well that I actually enjoyed it. It wasn’t always present. It wasn’t over the top. And I don’t know any other writer who could use “they’d’ve” and get away with it. But Mr. Lyga pulled it off.

Despite the pacing, I feel like Game has the makings of a brilliant book in a brilliant series. Even though I feel certain Game will probably be my least favorite in the series, Game gets 4 Stars from me easily. I can’t wait to see how things wrap up with Blood of My Blood. Have you read Game? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Cover Reveal - Pull by Claire Wallis

Pull (Push, # 2)

By: Claire Wallis

Expected Publication: November 6th 2014

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery

( Goodreads )

Description--***PULL is the continuation of Claire Wallis' sharp and shocking debut novel, PUSH. It is the second book in the series and is not intended to be a standalone.***

"It is impossible for someone like me—someone with a sin-list capable of wrapping itself around the world—to find redemption. To be repaired."

David Calgaro has secrets, and the only woman he's ever loved is about to pay the ultimate price to protect them. He's spent a lifetime searching for purpose and control. And the only place he's managed to find them is in a single, perfect moment; a moment in which he has absolute control over someone else's life.

David is unredeemable, unfixable, unsalvageable. But Emma Searfoss has forced a tiny sliver of hope to penetrate his soul. Hope that, even though redemption is impossible, maybe life isn't. Maybe he isn't who he thought he was. Maybe he's meant to be more.

This is a new adult novel with mature content for readers 17 and up.

PULL will be available in digital format via Amazon, Nook, and iBooks on November 6th. Pre-Orders can be placed on Amazon as of Monday, October 20th.

You can sign up for Claire Wallis's newsletter where you can receive bonus book teasers, stories, and information about both PUSH and PULL. Also, check out her website: www.clairewallis.com.

And for kicks, here are a couple of teasers:

I read Push back in April of this year of and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can read my review of Push here. This book was so much more than I expected it to be, and I absolutely cannot wait to pick this series back up and see how everything ends. When Claire Wallis contacted me about being a part of the cover reveal for Pull, I jumped on the chance immediately. I hope that you guys will check out Push. It ends in a huge cliffhanger, but since Pull will release in exactly 4 weeks, you won't have too long of a wait because trust me, you WILL NEED to read Pull as soon as possible.

Have any of you read Push? What did you think? Aren't you dying to read Pull too? Let me know!

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Review

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Millennium, # 3)

By: Stieg Larsson

Published: May 25th 2010 by Knopf (first published 2007)

563 pages

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Lisbeth Salander — the heart of Larsson’s two previous novels — lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge—against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now Salander is fighting back.

This entire series has been very different from what I typically read. I normally focus on books that have some kind of love story involved, but I'll settle for any story that makes me feel something. The other main kind of story I enjoy is one where all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together just perfectly. And well, that's the type that the Millennium series fits into. Every single piece is important in some way or other. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest picks up immediately where The Girl Who Played with Fire leaves off. The Girl Who Played with Fire ended at a good breaking point, but there were a lot of ends that still needed tying up. The reader is given a sense of satisfaction in knowing who framed Lisbeth and why, but The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest focuses on the rest of the world finding out who framed her and why. And there are still more pieces of the puzzle to be exposed as well.

I will say that The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest has had the best opening of the series so far. The previous two books, both had extremely slow beginnings. That wasn't the case here. But overall, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest felt quite long. There were some side pieces of the puzzle that felt unnecessary to the overall story arch of the series. These pieces added a cluttered feeling to the book to me--specifically the additional side story surrounding Erika Berger.

One of my favorite things about the Millennium series is how smart these characters are. Lisbeth and Blomkvist are both brilliant, intelligence wise. Lisbeth is a bit socially awkward because of her childhood and her extreme lack of trust in others. And Blomkvist is quite the opposite. Apparently he's a charmer since women seem to fall at his feet on a regular basis. And I loved watching the battle of wits between Salander/Blomkvist vs. "the bad guys" to see just who would ultimately outsmart who and how. It was fun to watch the pieces come together.

I felt like The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest was a nice series ender. The overall main story arch ended nicely. Everything I was curious about was addressed, but the ending of the book individually left a little something to be desired for me. It wasn't the ending I had hoped for, but at the same time, I wasn't exactly disappointed with it either. I was almost glad it wasn't what I hoped for. Does that make any sense?

All in all, I'm not sure I have much to say about this one. I'm glad that I pushed through and finished this series. I'm glad that I stepped outside my norm. I would recommend the series to others, but I don't find myself raving about it either. I think it was a well put together and thought out series. Yet I'm also glad to be able to mark it off my list and move on.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest? What did you think? Let me know!

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Review

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, # 1)

By: Stieg Larsson

Published: first published March 1st 2001

465 pages

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Adult

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there's always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

I finally finished. The beginning of this book was challenging to say the least. After digging further into the story, I understood the necessity of the information presented in the first 200 pages. However, initially pushing through those pages wasn't always easy.

This book was a bit out of my typical genre, but I'm glad I branched out. The story was multi-layered and all of the pieces fit together so nicely. There were definitely disturbing scenes that I wasn't expecting at all. Even though this book is fiction it just goes to show you that there are truly some disturbed, mentally sick people out there. And you don't always know who they are.

I really enjoyed how the story built and built the further you got into it. It didn't wait until the last 100 pages to climax and resolve. It grew in intensity even from the tough beginning. In the same way, I really enjoyed the ending. I'm sure alot of readers will be disappointed with the very end, but I enjoyed that it left me wanting more. That just makes me curious about the next book. I already know that Salander is in both of the other books, but I really hope to see a reappearance of Mikael in the future books as well. We will see.

4 Stars.

*Updated: September 6, 2013