ChaosHappinessBookMama

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This story just sucked me. Quick and easy read.  Flora and Julian have it together- gorgeous daughter graduating from high school,  a strong marriage, both have steady acting jobs.  Then Flora finds Julian's wedding band at the bottom of their filing cabinet.  The one he claimed was at the bottom of a pond.  Julian confesses to an affiar - over many years ago. But Flora doesn't know if she can move past it. And her best friend,  Margot, knew.  Great story about reevaluating,  pausing to look around and really ask - after all this time,  what do I really want?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chilling creative plot that asks would you take justice for your loved ones into your own hands?  Danny Evans' daughter, Callie, is in a coma after a failed suicide attempt at the park he used to push her on the swings. Like that isn't heartbreaking enough,  Callie had been groomed for months,  blackmailed into sharing explicit photos, along with several of her close friends.  The police investigation has stalled. And Danny struggles with his anger.  Only heightened as his visits his daughter in hospital,  with little improvement.   Lost without purpose until a private investigator offers a chance at justice.  He has information, the offender's identity.   What would you do? Your precious daughter on life support; the police have no leads,  seemingly moving on to other cases.  Great plot. Humanity at its worst. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leslie Wolfe never fails to make me stay up past my bedtime to read her thrillers.   Kay receives a phone call from her brother.  After a brief bar fight, Jacob is arrested and sentenced to jail time. Kay knows her brother will never survive a month in jail, let alone several.  Kay leaves her FBI BAU profiler job to move back home - a small rural town,  her childhood house Kay ditched after graduating high school.  Only to be met with evil. Someone has been taking women, torturing them for months and burying them on Silent Lake. Kay knows it's only going to get worse.  Teaming up with the local detective, Kay races to create a profile to help catch a viscous killer.  Excellent plot,  very creative and great suspense.  Love the characters.  Looking forward to the next book. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I am a sucker for a book that references other books. The first in this series did the same- this followed along with crime novels. Swoon.  Peggy enjoys noting the comings and goings on her street- number of dog walkers, cyclists. That's where her carer, Natalka, finds her.  The son, Nigel,  and his wife swoop diwn to clean out her flat. Natalka helps.  Only to find many of the crime novels dedicated or acknowledging Peggy.  She even has a businesses card - murder consultant.  Harbinder is made aware of the possibility of Peggy's death actually being a homicide. She remains unconvinced until Natalka and Benedict,  a former monk turned coffee shack owner, are held at gunpoint.   Humor. Lovely people.  Characters.  Very enjoyable read. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This cover is stunning - grabbed my immediate attention.  Fable finds herself on Zala's ship - not a good sign. Zala kidnapped her - in desperate need for her dredging skills. After hiring additional help,  including of course Koy, they set off.  Zala intends to lift his trading ban on the Unnamed Sea. But Fable doesn't realize she is his bartering chip.   And then the plot just sucks you in.  Rich descriptions,  family drama, West and his crew, and the ever elusive Isolde drive this plot. I loved it. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ The story starts with a Victorian Gothic short story written by an eccentric local author - The Stranger.  Two men are on a train- the narrator passes the time talking about his time at University.  The story continues throughout the book. Definitely adds a creepy,  mysterious suspense to the plot.  Clare teaches at the local school- her daughter attends as well.  The original building was The Stranger's author,  R M Holland's home. Clare has been researching the author for years, a slight obsession.   Ella, another English teacher, is viciously murdered in her home.  Similar to a character in The Stranger.  Harbinder is assigned to the case. She digs into the incestuous English Dept, picking apart friendships.   Did I mention the killer leaves a note in Clare's diary? He's killing for her.  Creepy.  Old Gothic buidling. Diaries.  A reclusive author and urban legends.   Very enjoyable.  ...

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lady Eleanor struggles with the rigidity of her time - the late 1930's. As an Oxford mathematician graduate, Ellie wants to study, find the secrets science can share. As World War II begins, her fiancé,  David, joins as a pilot.  Her beloved father joins as an information officer, leaving his assistant to look over Ellie. Miss Seaborne places some serious restrictions.   Megan comes to Foxfield Hall to revive the gardens - and the sinister maze. She goes on a run in the maze, only to find green lights - and Ellie, in 1939.  Together Megan and Ellie try to figure how and why they've been brought together.   Ashleigh has a long history - Ellie's family going back hundreds of years, tied to the land. The first Lady of Foxfield, rumored to be the elusive Guinevere.   Legends.  Folk tales. Vengeance.  Family. Heritage.  Great story. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wow! What to even say? Buy it now!  Gwen and her family have moved yet again - only to be harassed and hunted.  Kezia is called to a horrible crime scene- infant twins drowned, the mother no where to be found. She calls Gwen for help.  Gwen looks into the mother - a trail of fake identities,  dead elderly.  This case just gets more complicated,  more questions.   This is the best book of the series - well other than the first two.  I did the audio version- loved it. This book is told by Sam, Gwen and Kezia. Each had a different narrator- it was brilliant.  Highly recommend. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Family guilt. A gorgeous resort. Millionaire families. A wedding.  A lost love. And a dead man.  Meddy fell in love as a freshman- Nathan was her best friend before they both realized they were into each other.  At graduation, Nathan is offered his dream job.  Meddy's aunties and mother just started a wedding business- with her as the photographer.  Bravely Meddy breaks up with Nathan - only to mourn her loss.  Four years pass by - her family's business is hired for the wedding of the year - a bride and groom from  crazy wealthy families.   The night before,  Meddy's mother confesses she created an online dating profile,  posing as Meddy. She made a date to finally meet charming, Jake.  Meddy agrees to the date. Only ending up with a dead Jake. Meddy goes home - Meddy, aunties, mother struggle to hide the body.  Add in family guilt. Her lost love on the scene again. Family guilt. Wealthy clients. And chaos.  Enj...

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoyable historical novel that doesn't take itself too seriously.   Mary Queen of Scotts is a notrious historical figure.  I would become more obsessed if I had more free time.   The authors create a contemporary tale- present day culture referenced to provide humor not to mention the digs at the French as well as aristocrats.   I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I played the audio version - just an automated version,  while my 14 yo daughter did school work.  She enjoyed listening- especially the presence of potions. 

⭐⭐⭐ Loved the family drama  - the frantic unfolding of two missing fathers and the truth.   May visits the family lawyer shortly after her mother's death. She learns the family island supposedly sold 30 years ago is still owned by her mother- now May holds the deed. She tears up the deed and head's to her sister's for dinner. Only to be killed in a tragic car accident.   Struggling with both the death of her mother and sister, June heads to Avril Island. Why did her mother keep them away, moving them across the country 30 years earlier? What really caused her father to disappear the last night her family stayed in the cabin?  June visits the town- trying to uncover why her mother kept Avril Island. She learns about her father's disappearance.  Her mother's manipulation of all around her. A possible affair with her best friend,  Ezra's, father. So many secrets.   And intense connection between Ezra and June - strong,  nostalgic and s...

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A gruesome killer is copying the Jigsaw Killer - Peter Olivier who was convicted and imprisoned. Anjelica has been on desk duty since her return after assisting in the arrest of the Jigsaw Killer - the scars on her stomach a daily reminder.  Until her boss sends her to a crime scene on the river - body parts from a white male, a single arm from a black female. Partnered with a trainee, Anj searches for the victims' identities, as well as the missing body parts.  Anj's complicated relationship with her husband Rob - who is desperate for Anj to leave the police force and obtain a safe job; using their daughter, Emma, as a pawn.  So much background - especially the first 30% of book; as other people have commented, excellent setup for a prequel or sequel. It certainly drew my attention as I definitely wanted to learn more.  The murders are gruesome - saws, beheading, violent removal of limbs. I felt it wasn't too bloody - but some people may feel otherwise.  I...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I've noticed a trend towards women speaking their truth in the last dozens of books I've consumed.  Or at least more honesty regarding women's lives. This book certainly adds to this theme.  It is a well known fact women were placed in asylums as a way for the men in their life putting them aside- daughters, wives, sisters difficult to control,  men lusting after their inheritances, or simply because they felt inferior.  Not to overlook the  women with mental health issues who genuinely needed help.  But let's be real. The health care system has been failing women for generations.   Clara is finally released from an nightmare asylum when a new doctor takes over patient care.  She had given birth to a still born baby after a hard labor and several miscarriages.  In 1870s England, a woman's duty was marriage and children. Clara was failing - and being punished accordingly.   Upon her return to her husband,  who moved t...

⭐⭐⭐.5 I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.   Eleanor decides she and her staff have earned a lovely holiday at the sea. On her way out the door, a letter from the hotel arrives. Eleanor puts in her purse and starts her journey.  Only to arrive at the Grand as her husband's body is removed on a stretcher. Murdered. Dead for the second time.  Eleanor must find out who murdered her husband - and how he failed to die the first time.  With the help of her outrageously proper butler,  Clifford, Eleanor traces Hilary's movements while her ladies have indecent fun. Overall an enjoyable read. Amazing descriptions of Brighton. And I did not guess the culprit.   I have not read the previous books in this series. Though the background information was sufficient,  I feel I would have enjoyed the story as well as the characters more if I had read them.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rachel Abbott is one of my favorite,  most recommended authors. I love her Tom Douglas series - and was super excited to consume this latest addition.   A woman is murdered in the lane behind her house.  Her husband owns a tech company- on the verge of launching a life altering app.  After talking to staff and searching offices, the police realize Martha cannot be found.  Martha's life is a complete fabrication- perfect for a murderer to disappear.   Martha and her son,  Alfie, are on the run. She shuffles them around the countryside,  under the radar.  India's story unfolds- the daughter of a woman who questions her purpose, wandering until she finds Aram. He tears apart their family,  values and self worth.   Chilling. Suspenseful. Loved it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ So much inclusion and diversity- loved it!  Darcy has been giving advice for years, using locker number 89 for both to maintain the confidentiality of her identity as well as those submitting questions.  Following YouTubers giving relationship advice as well boosting the inquirer's confidence has earned her a stellar reputation.   Her unrequited love for her bestie,  Brooke, along with Darcy's undying love for her transitioning sister Ainsley,  lends humanity and humor, insight into Darcy's personality.   Everything is great.  Until Brougham discovers her secret.  And Brooke starts dating Ray.  So much positivity in this book. Especially questioning what makes a person queer - dating same sex, identifying as queer while dating opposite sex. Amazing example for teens who are supposed to be confused,  struggling with their identity and what label fits, or does one need a label? 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Girls are brutal. We are brutal to ourselves. We are brutal to those around us. Why? Why must our insecurities turn into fear; lashing out at ourselves, those around us.  Ambrosia starts her freshman year at Wesleyan as Flora's roommate.  Flora is disgustingly nice, kind, encouraging, supportive and madly in love with her boyfriend,  Kevin.  Ambrosia hangs out with Sully- parties every night; alcohol and drugs; plummeting grades.  Flora's concern spurned as ridicule.   Ten years later reunion time has arrived.  But Ambrosia refuses to attend.  Until her husband hears about the reunion. Ambrosia has never told him what really happened- the tragedy,  the rumors,  the guilt.  They arrive - and it all comes back.  Great plot. Great characters.  Great twist. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wow! An incredible historical novel about a woman who refused to be anyone other than herself.  I have a massive book hangover.   I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.   Nicole refuses to be young lady - she runs with the boys, breathes the soil and falls madly in love. Together  Francois and Nicole lay the foundation for a timeless vineyard.   After his death, Nicole refuses to quietly live in the country.  The vineyard becomes her life focus, her obsession to overcome all obstacles.  All the feels.