The Five Things By Beth Merwood

The Five Things

By Beth Merwood

2021

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Adams Basin, NY

14410-0708

ISBN 978-1-5092-3499-8

ISBN 978-1-5092-3500-1 (digital)

277 pages

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Author Beth Merwood writes an intriguing mystery. This historical story is based on, and around a group of local children finding their way through a legendary tale, or is it? For the book’s main character Wendy, it is the summer of 1969 and she’ll not soon forget it.

**There are NO spoilers in this book review**

Children are explorers and these town’s children are mesmerized by the eerie woods nearby. They challenge themselves to go further past the fields in which they already play, into an area perhaps they’d be trespassing in.

Beth Merwood entices us with beautiful and descriptive writing that “shows us” the scenes vividly, and these descriptions help to keep the pages turning. I, as the reader, put myself right into the pastures that Wendy and her friends are “hanging out” in easily. And Merwood gives us the perfect amount of chill as she puts us into those eerie woods. This small group of neighboring friends, including 9-year-old Wendy, play extensively together and as with most children of the 1960s era, all of them definitely used their imaginations!

When the children are first to uncover some strange things, they become unsure of whom they can trust. Could things just be part of the legend? When another tragic event happens their carefree innocence is suddenly ripped away, and this little coastal English town has now been changed.

I as a reader enjoyed being along for the mysterious ride. I as a book reviewer know that Ms. Merwood has put together a nice suspenseful debut novel. I enjoyed the “point of view” from 9-year-old Wendy’s standpoint. I enjoyed the glimpse into the childlike wonderment of adventure, along with the dark incident and how she and the children handle this. Great story.

I want to thank author Beth Merwood and Bookstagrammers.com for supplying this book for a real and true review.

4.5 Stars

This book had great descriptive writing and sense of place, great depth of character, and story plot.

Please see:

https://bethmerwood.wixsite.com/write for information and books, as well as Amazon and other fine bookstores.

@bethmerwood on Instagram

For publisher information please see:

Home Page

#bethmerwood #thefivethings #thewildrosepress #bookstagrammerscom

The Advocate

The Advocate by Teresa Burrell

The Advocate

By Teresa Burrell

Silent Thunder Publishing

San Diego, CA

92111

2009

ISBN: 978-1-938680-03-8

Paperback

286 pages

This debut book was a captivating read. The main Character, Sabre Brown is a juvenile court attorney and the author takes us on a journey into her world of cases that involve things like custody and the best interests of children. But Sabre Brown finds herself in a place where her life gets mysteriously intertwined with a case she’s working on. The case is that of a ten-year-old named Alexis Murdock. The author, Teresa Burrell hooks us into her immense story that includes a lot of twists and turns. Sabre’s story, ***While I won’t give out spoilers***slowly unwinds as she enlists the help of one Detective Carriage. While doing a background check on the little girl Alexis’ father, it leads suddenly to her own back story regarding her missing brother.

The story develops into a complex and even treacherous peril for Sabre as she continues on into the investigation of the child’s family. This leads to more intrigue and mystery, thrill and danger.

I thought this was a great work of fiction. The characters were compelling and helped to drive this story. I thought this was an interesting subject matter to write about. I was engaged and felt for the juvenile character Alexis all the way to the end. I would be interested to read her next book in the twelve-book series.

The author Teresa Burrell is indeed an Advocate and an attorney for a family court system in her real life. She truly has dedicated her life to children’s issues, her novels have been inspired by her many legal cases.

4****

I received this book for a #realandtruereview I’d like to mention Bookstagrammers.com for making this possible along with the author Teresa Burrell.

This book is available through the author’s own website at: teresaburrell.com/bookstore and at all booksellers. The author can be found on all social media channels including Facebook.com/teresaburrell

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

The Mother-In-Law

by Sally Hepworth

2019

340 pages

St. Martin’s Press

New York, NY

10010

ISBN 978-1250120922 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1250225177 (International)

ISBN 978-1250120946 (ebook)

In this the sixth novel, author Sally Hepworth reveals her masterful skill of the layered storytelling she is astoundingly good at.

In this novel, she has turned up the heat by entangling the depths of her characters with heart-tugging familial relationships.

While I won’t report spoilers here in my review, the tense family encounters will keep you not only on the edge of your seat, you as a reader, will continue to guess and wonder who or who could not commit a crime.

The push and pull between family members, especially the female ones, will take the reader into their own family and reflect quickly on their own dynamics and relationships.

There is death, inheritance, and struggle. Hepworth will have you turning the pages as the characters that she builds begin to take on similarities to those we may have known, or are currently in your own family. We begin to care for them.

We know too, that this family is hiding something, and the continual weaving by Hepworth is stellar.

This is a 5 star ***** read.

This book was chosen by the book club I belong to called the Book Babes. This book was also borrowed from my local network of libraries.

The Urge By CL Gibson A Review

By CL Gibson

The Urge

CL Gibson

166 pages

My Blue Horse Publishing Co.

Cary Illinois 60013

2018

ISBN 978-1-7326720-2-4 Digital Edition

ISBN 978-1-7326720-1-7 Hardcover Edition

ISBN 978-1-7326720-0-0 Softcover Edition

I was lucky to meet this author at a writer’s event at my local library, and I’m so glad I did!

CL Gibson is an emerging author who wrote The Urge as one in a series of books she’s entitled “The Devil’s Rules” series.

The impact of the first chapter is chilling! As a reader I am hooked, the author’s attention to detail and forensics knowledge leads the reader right into the underbelly of the crime with her exquisite scene setting.

I could not stop turning the pages, immediately I am ensconced in caring deeply about the characters she has written. Ms. Gibson gives the reader a full sense of the utter depravity of each of the situations the main characters Woody and his sister Vette go through. This prompts us to root emotionally for the choices that the young character Woody makes as he justifies his secrets. There are many twists and turns and without giving away too much in this review, it is a unique brand of justice served as cute as a breakfast muffin could get. The book will take you through the years in the lives of Woody and Vette as they grow up and face their pasts.

This complex psychological thriller will keep you guessing as Ms. Gibson skillfully takes us on the journey until the satisfying end. You will agree The Urge is a stellar debut novel, and I cannot wait for CL Gibson to continue to add to her “The Devil’s Rules” series.

I highly recommend this book. 5 Stars *****

Bonus: As part of the purchase of The Urge, you’ll get a sneak peek at the next four chapters of her next book The Grudge. The Grudge will be released in the fall of 2019.

Please go to:

https://christilgibson.com/

Where you can purchase her books, but you can also sign up to hear about news and events

You can also go directly to Amazon to purchase as well.

TBR~ To Be Read & To Be Reviewed

The piles of TBR’s sometimes grow large, but the commitment I personally make is that I’ll read each one with care and review with thoughtful and I hope, inciteful and engaging reviews.

One other thing that reviewers can do is read an emerging author/writer. When an author first starts out, it can be the hardest time of all.

Here’s my new list and TBR please support and read.

Emerging Authors, check them out!

Adventures At Kiddie Land By Mary-Lynette Moore Authorhouse 2011,2013
ISBN 978-1-4567-4665-0

America Through My Eyes
Experiences of An Eqyptian American Muslim Woman By Rania Zeithar 2016,2018
ISBN 13: 978-1-5306-4584-8
ISBN 10: 978-1-5306-4584-0

Prodigal Son By David Allen Kivi Jr. 2018
ISBN 978-1-7324-0801-2

The Urge By CL Gibson Amazon & Kindle Fall 2019
My Blue Horse Publishing Co 2018
ISBN 978-1-7326-720-1-7 Hard Cover Edition
ISBN 978-1-7326-720-0-0 Soft Cover Edition
ISBN 978-1-7326-720-2-4 Digital Edition

You Are Mogul By Tiffany Pham Simon & Schuster 2018
ISBN 978-1-5011-9185-5
ISBN Ebook 978-1-5011-9187-9

Lazy Perfection The Art Of Looking Great Without Really Trying By Jenny Patinkin
2017 Running Press, An Imprint of Perseus Books, LLC, A subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
ISBN 978-0-7624-6144-8
ISBN Ebook 978-0-7624-6145-5

Once Upon A River A Novel By Diane Setterfield Emily Bestler Books Atria An Imprint of Simon & Schuster (ARC Copy) Available 1/1/19
ISBN 978-0-7432-9807-0

One Day In December A Novel By Josie Silver Crown, an Imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York
(ARC Copy) Available 10/18 ISBN 978-0-525-57468-2
Ebook ISBN 978-0-525-57470-5
(audio available)

The Drama Teacher A Novel By Koren Zailckas 2018 Crown, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penquin Random House LLC
ISBN 978-0-553-44809-2
ISBN Ebook 978-0-553-44810-8
(audio available)

The River at Night By Erica Ferencik Review

The River at Night
By Erica Ferencik

Scout Press
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster
New York, NY 10020
2014, 2017
292 pages
ISBN 978-1-5011-4319-9

First, I wanted to thank Gallery Books for providing this book for me to read, enjoy, and review.

Second, as soon as I got done with this book, all I wanted to do was to hug my girlfriends! This fast-paced and action-filled novel written by MS Ferencik was chilling! The setting was a thick wilderness in Maine where four very best friends set out on an all-girl hiking and rafting trip.

Each character, whether it is Pia, Wini, Rachel or Sandra takes the reader to her very own circle of friends, identifying with at least one of them yourself and the personalities and dynamics of their friendships compared to your own friends. With misgivings aside, they set out for this fun and engaging raft trip where the girls could escape the regular rat race of life and bond together. This story puts to test the resolve of each of the girlfriends and their will to survive given the situation, the tough terrain of the wilderness and the rage of the waters. It gives them all they can handle, including the strength they didn’t know they had.

This story is a true thrill ride from the start to the finish and engages the reader into an adrenaline rush of their own. It keeps you guessing as the characters are pushed to the edge. MS Ferencik combines the very stark beauty of the landscape with unsavory characters the girls meet and the visceral pulsed story. It was a very superbly written thriller. I did not put this book down.

I highly recommend this book. I give it 5 stars.

Behind Closed Doors By B.A. Paris A Review

Behind Closed Doors

St. Martin’s Press, New York

2016

Paperback 351 pages

 

Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris is a real and true gripping psychological thriller that I as a reader could not put down! This book engaged me immediately.

Enter Jack Angel and Grace, the main subjects of this book, as they become a newly married couple in an interesting relationship. Grace is thoroughly smitten and enticed as well as gullible. Little did Grace know that Jack would easily suck her into his sick world of evil.

Jack, a lawyer for Domestic violence victims and issues wins the heart of many. Jack finds Grace at a park with her sister Millie, who has Down’s Syndrome, he observes her and them and Grace quickly becomes his mark.

This book will take the reader on lots of twists and turns and you will often ask yourself what is going on here? This book is told from the point of view of Grace as her experiences with Jack become odd and hedge on the creepy. Without giving away too many spoilers, the perfect life, and perfect marriage maybe just a little too good to be true!

The reader will feel chilled and even will wish for the controlling and manipulative Jack to just abandon his plans and turn the other cheek, but it is all to no avail. One wants Jack to be a good guy.

The author Paris makes this story believable because we as readers do see how something like this “could” happen to anyone of us!

I found this book to be one that kept me caring about the characters and where I was always rooting for Grace and Millie and the entwined neighbors and colleague friends to actually “catch” on to what was going on. This book was an easy read that was clever and will keep you enthralled until the very end.

 

 

 

 

The Girl On The Train Review

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

Riverhead Books

Penguin Group (USA) LLC

New York, NY 10014

2015

ISBN 978-1-5943-366-9

323 pages

This work of fiction from author Paula Hawkins, her first thriller, definitely puts the reader on the edge of their seats! This psychological thriller debuted #1 on NY Times Best Sellers list. It stayed there for 13 consecutive weeks!

It is told narrative style or Point of View (POV) of the three female characters, Rachel. Anna, and Megan. The main character Rachel takes the same commuter train every single morning and returns on this same train every single evening. She has memorized the landscapes and the homes in her hum drum rides. As she passes, from time to time, she glimpses the people who live along this train route. She’s seen them in their backyards. Rachel actually names them as she wonders about their lives; even fantasizing about their affairs and hoe they conduct their family lives.

Then one day Rachel sees something from the train window that changes everything. She believes she may have witnessed a crime. She doesn’t report it at first, because she reasons with the characters she’s created, even thinking that the imaginary but real couple couldn’t have been involved in what she believes is a crime, that and her own hidden secrets may make her unreliable.  But she can’t bear her own thoughts and eventually does report what she sees to the police.

The emotional thrill ride begins and there are many twists and turns in this story that has been likened to Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces. It will keep you guessing and leaving you all consumed until the very last line!

An easy read that comes highly recommended.

This book has been aquired by DreamWorks Pictures.

*this book is part of Mary Caliendo’s personal library.