ChaosHappinessBookMama

The Dying Game Ruhi Choudhary ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mia is kidnapped without a trace. Mack and Nick find a few details - before they can put it together,  Mia is found dead. A few days later, an unemployed account is found dead in his apartment- with a suicide note confessing to Mia's murder. Another woman goes missing. Mack and Nick desperate for any connection, find themselves looking into a wealthy family with so many secrets to protect. Humor. Suspense. Likeable characters.  Highly recommend. #thedyinggame #ruhichoudhary #mackenziepriceseries #mack #BooksOnTour #Bookouture #thrillerseries #thriller #thrillerbooks #highlyrecommend #greatread

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Deception Most Deadly  Genevieve Essig Cassie travels from her home in New York to meet her Aunt Flora in the town of Fernandina, Florida. Aunt Flora is truly modern woman of 1883 - never married, no children, owns her own business - a perfumery recently ruined a fire. Though she has many friends, and pets - Aunt Flora also has a few enemies , such as Peanut Runkles, her next door neighbor. On an evening walk, Cassie finds his body; Aunt Flora is charged with his murder and Flora is determined to prove her innocence. In the course of the investigation, Cassie learns about her father, recently deceased, as well as many family secrets. This is a slow build cozy mystery - twists were good as well as family secrets. But the story lagged - could be cut down to allow for a quicker and more interesting read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Girl From Paris Ella Carey Amazing story - women supporting women,  mentoring and pushing women in business to live their dreams, hold off on marriage. Beautiful story about a young woman determined to fulfill her life long dream- fashion design and her own business. Vianne loses her mother , father and sister in a matter of weeks - leaving Vianne to run her father's antique store until her brother's return at the end of the war. Upon Jacques' return with his wife, Vianne is kicked out.  With the help of mother's best friend,  Vianne has a home, a job as a seamstress. And finally has the money to book passage to New York. Fate plays a hand - landing Vianne a designer job at an atelier. Her dreams become reality as young entrepreneur Giorgio Valentino tempts Vianne's strict dedication.  @bookouture #thegirlfromparis #bookrecommendations #booktour #ellacarey #daughtersofnewyork #daughtersofnewyorkseries #womensfiction

Stillwater Island Greg Olsen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have not read previous books in this series - I did not have an issue keeping up with the characters, nuances, etc. It may have enhanced my understanding of Megan but did not hold me back. Megan is called to the house of Marlena and her son Bennie - they have gone missing. The husband, Ben, called the police; due to a recent separation, Ben has been staying at the cabin. Not only does his behavior seem off to Megan, Ben can't pinpoint the day they could have vanished. Together, Ronnie and Megan begin their investigation - Ben, the son of a wealthy businessman; Cyrus, Ben's father; Helen, Megan's mother; neighbors. Marlena had few friends - typical in a controlling and possibly abusive relationship. Ben failed to mention Marlena is pregnant. Great characters - I really enjoy Megan's blunt, make it happen regardless of the rules personality. Looking forward to the next in the series.   

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alessia enjoys a quiet night at home, sitting on her couch when a brick is thrown threw her window.  With a message - Found You.  Alessia knows her past is coming for her - the past she has kept from her husband.   Two girls play in a small, abandoned cottage. Both girls abused, terrified of him.  Loved the characters,  plot. Great suspense.   Highly recommend. #bookouture #bookontour #illnevertell #caseykelleher #bookreviews #books #bookrecommendation #thriller

Malevolent Nevers  Tim Rimer ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Abel Ward left his home as soon as he could.  Just about twenty years later, his high school crush, Daisy,  calls. His great aunt Elma is quickly declining.  Si simply wants to spend his time with his bestie and girlfriend,  Mags. Instead he's forced to tag along with his dad.  They call to Si - in his dreams, in his thoughts they call his name.  Elma recites the age old rhyme.  The nevers calling for the blood of the promised Ward. Abel chooses to bury her - and the nightmare begins.   Creepy.  Violent creatures.  Lots of goo. An old Victorian house. And a family legacy to protect the town. Great read. #horror #creepybook #malevolentnevers #timrimer #zooloobooktours #shadowsparkpub #book #booktour #bookrecommendations 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chase finally has a chance with Suzy - after years of pursuit. Only to have it interrupted by his best friends, Thurman and Avi. His brother is in trouble - Riordan needs his brother's help. Chase decides to finish with Suzy first only to find a blood bath at his house.  Their parents do not approve of Riordan's sexuality, or his boyfriend Nathan. They hired a vampire - who mistakenly attacked Riordan instead of Nathan.  Chase refuses to allow the Alpha to push aside this event -creating a massive fight, the majority of the pack dead.  Chase, Avi, Thurman, Riordan and Nathan strike out on their own - decades of searching for a home.  Years later a pack running from vampires moves into the town owned by Chase and his family.  Carley catches Chase's eye, and maybe his heart. They need to resolve so many issues - like Carley's pack and their need for protection, the brutality of some of its members. And Chase's need for Carley. Great shifter novel ...

The Orphan's Secret  Shirley Dickson  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #bookouture #bookontour #booktour #bookreview #bookrecommendation #theorphanssecret #shirleydickson #wwii #womensfiction #allthefeels 1941 - World War II is in full swing. And Ethel falls in love with the enemy - Karl,  a German prisoner of war. When Ethel finds herself pregnant,  she finds a friend in Lily- also a pregnant women whose husband is in the war.  They build a lovely friendship and promise to care for each other's babies.  Lily and Ethel's baby survive. But Lily's husband comes home. Will Lily tell him the truth?  This book just yanks out every emotion.  And the history - very informative account of the life of women in England as well as ways women helped the war effort. Excellent read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book stays with you. Betsy was kidnapped by two ruthless killers, abused and shared. Very graphic - triggers.  But we also get to learn about Betsy's life after she escapes. Using the tools the brothers taught her, Betsy does not lead a quiet life. She sets up her own life - fascinating,  well researched.  You can't help but be obsessed.   #betsyroberts #zooloobooktours #serialkillers #truecrime #booksn#booknerds #fivestarreview #bookreview 

Murder on the Pier Merryn Allingham ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #bookworm #bookouture #BookReview #booktour #cozymystery #cozymysteries Flora simply walks down a pier - it's never that simple for Flora. Of course she finds a body - young Polly, whom everyone in the village loved.  Or at least not one person. Flora convinces Jack to help her again to solve this newest mysterious death - convinced it wasn't a simple accident. Lots of entertaining village characters,  Jack his usual "Do I have to" self. Great additon to the series.  

Missing Daughter Kiersten Modglin ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #missingdaughter #mustread #kierstenmodglin #bookouture #BookReview #booktour #suspense This book starts with Skylar's birthday party.  Her mother,  Ginny, struggles with the stress of people in her house, dealing with family and suppressing the need to cleanup while others play. The feel of constant judgement, scrutiny - only her friend Alex seems to a source of support. The next morning,  Ginny realizes Skylar didn't wake during the night.  Going into her bedroom, Ginny finds an emtpy bed. Skylar is missing. The plot moves back to six months before - narrators Cameron, her husband and Ginny taking turns to build up to the disappearance, introducing the suspects- including each other. Great, fast paced read. I truly loved the brutal portrait of mothers and their struggles - the struggle to grieve their pregnancy and birth,  the loss of self, the never ending soul crushing guilt of motherhood, self judgment, the stru...

My Husband's Fiancée Wendy Owens ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #booktour #nextsteppr #wendyowens #mustread #books #bookrecommendation #myhusbandsfiance Finished in a day- this book starts with the arrest of Liz for the murder of her husband's mistress.  And I was obsessed. The book begins a year after Liz's arrest and trial. She has an expected visitor - Dr. Evelyn Powell. Her husband's fiancée.  Desperate for Liz to sign the divorce papers, Evelyn agrees to listen to Liz's story. Liz is desperate for someone to help her expose Nathan for who he really is - Alison's killer. Drama. Intrigue. Mystery. Obsession. Excellent read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dark Water Girls  Meagen Beaumont #bookouture #BookReview #booktour #bookrecommendations #meaganbeaumont #thrillerbooks You HAVE to read this book! This is my favorite kind of thriller - fast paced,  likeable characters who made mistakes, chaos and a strong kickass woman.  Georgie reluctantly returns home after years of in the armed services.  She ended her career as a warrant officer for the sexual harassment and assault office. Immediate respect.   Georgia left her foster home when she overhears the young man she loves talking to her foster sister. About her pregnancy.   Now as an adult and the beneficiary of a monumental estate, Georgia is forced to face the truth of that night, the crime rampant in her community and face the monsters. 

Her Mother's Cry  Roberta Gately #hermothersgrave #robertagately #bookouture #bookontour #bookreviews #book  Jessie loves being an ER nurse - but the thrill of being a forensic nurse calls her.  Jessie is called to the scene of a young woman - an unidentified woman jumped from the roof.  With a possible pulse, Jessie follows the victim to the ER, where she is declared deceased.   Leaning towards suicide, the autopsy shows the woman was dead upon hitting the pavement.  Bruising on her wrists. Torn fingernails.   Several cases of women committing suicide within months. Jessie is convinced there is a connection.   Great story and suspense. Relatable characters. 

Blind Date - Book Tour! Woo hoo! Wendy Clarke ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #bookouture #BookReview #booktour #bookrecommendation #blinddate #WendyClarke #thriller We have all had those immediate click, intense attraction,  obsessive thoughts and must constantly touch relationships.  Do they tank? Sometimes.  Are we blind? For sure. Mel is having a tough time. She has just been bumped from the coveted breakfastt radio show to the late show - it's most active hour, True Confessions. Meeting her coworkers out for a drink - Simon shares his wife pregnancy, after a miscarriage; Simon his usual drunk self is determined to set Mel up - she hasn't dated since her divorce. Then she sees him talking to Chris - Malik.  Instant physical attraction.  After a night together, someone slaches Mel's tire. Strange sounds in the dark radio station corridor. And Natalie's distrurbing true confession. Lots of suspense,  drama, friendship complications.  Great read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finished in a day- this book starts with the arrest of Liz for the murder of her husband's mistress.  And I was obsessed.  The book begins a year after Liz's arrest and trial. She has an expected visitor - Dr. Evelyn Powell. Her husband's fiancée.  Desperate for Liz to sign the divorce papers, Evelyn agrees to listen to Liz's story.  Liz is desperate for someone to help her expose Nathan for who he really is - Alison's killer.  Drama. Intrigue. Mystery. Obsession.  Excellent read.

Migration Event K C Gillis  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #migrationevent #kcgilliswriter #environmentalthriller #thriller #suspense #mustread #jordanreed #zooloobooktours This book is well researched, planned and executed. It immediately made me think of the Pelican Brief by John Grisham.   An environmental thriller that sucks you in, includes massively rich men and politicians.   Jordan receives a random tip about a wealthy man evading tariffs.  As she digs deeper, Jordan learns no one knows why this man bought a failing solar panel company.  Maggie is a die hard conservationist, with connections all over the world. Migrating dowitchers are literally falling dead from the sky. An autopsy reveals a specific metal poisoning. Found in solar panels.  Great suspense, lots of characters to keep the plot moving.

Frozen Souls Rita Heron ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #bookreview #bookouture #BooksOnTour #bookrecommendation #FrozenSouls #thriller #ritaherron A hunter searches for his perfect mate - stealing young women and holding them captive. As his collection grows, he must discard an older body. The body of a frozen youn woman is found while searching for a child and dog lost on the AT trail. Ginger escapes to a remote cabin- desperate to work in her handcrafted jewelry while avoiding her domineering ex boyfriend and father. The hunter spots her - and feels that instant connection.  The tension between Ellie and Bryce continue. Cord and Ellie work together- and Derrick is brought back. Great twists and an attention grabbing read! 

When the Nightingale Sings Suzanne Kelman  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Anyone else loving the trend of female empowerment in contemporary fiction?  This book tells the story of two women - some may say unlikely friends, an academic and an actress.   Hedy and Judy meet in London, unlikely friends and very different lives. But their passion unites them as they fight do their part in WWII - while battling sexism.  Very compelling story of women and their untold stories. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Creepy. Chilling. A family drama told in three voices and seperated by decades. Liv drags her three daughters to a remote Scottish island - in the middle of the night. The owner of The Longing has commissioned a mural - a decommissioned lighthouse to become a writing studio. With the help of a local plasterer, Liv gets started. And learns the history of their new home.  Saffy is an angry teenager - misunderstood,  her mother doesn't swem to care. But then Brodie starts talking to her.  In 2021, Luna tells us about her devastating loss - her mother and sisters disappearing, never to be found. Until she receives a phone call - Clover has been found.   Engaging.  Family mystery drama. Great writing - you can feel the Scottish weather.  History.  Well done.  #thelighthousewitches #cjcooke #penguinpublishing #bookreviews #netgalley #mustread #booktour