Book Review: Burntown (Jennifer McMahon) @RandomHouseCA

I was not quite sure what to expect when I started Burntown by Jennifer McMahon; I had heard notable praise for McMahon’s work but had never read any of her novels before. After reading, I have come to realize that if her other work holds any resemblance to Burntown, then I have been making a serious mistake! This book was captivating, original and had me gripped.

I am not entirely sure how to proceed with my review as this novel blended and bent any resemblance of genre. It had elements of the paranormal and a classic thriller; it also had coming of age elements and reminded me a little bit of post-apocalyptic dystopian novels.   Fantasy mixed with a feel of science fiction; truly, this novel ended up with a little bit for every reader.

Book Review: I Found You (Lisa Jewell) @lisajewelluk @SimonSchusterCA

I Found You by Lisa Jewell was one of the most originally written novels I have read this year; a slow burning mystery and then a fast race to the finish, Jewell had me captivated with her complex characters and her smart prose.

This was one of my most anticipated April reads. I have countless novels by this author on my TBR shelf, but, for whatever reason, they always end up in my bag log.   So, needless to say, I was pleased as punch when #cjsreads made this one of our picks and forced me to move this one to the top!

Book Review: Lie to Me (Jess Ryder) @bookouture @jessryderauthor

When Meredith (Meri) finds an old home movie of her and her mother, she is surprised when her father doesn’t want her to watch it. She had never known her mother, Becca. After watching the video, Meri is conflicted.   Is this video truly the rambling of a woman with mental health issues, as she has always been told, or could there be any truth in this strange and dangerous story her mother ranted about and forced her to tell on camera?

Book Review: The Girl from Yesterday (Kathryn Miller Haines) @Pocket_Books

Helen, a recovering meth addict, finds herself finally in control of her life. She has a steady job, a boyfriend and attends her meetings religiously.   However, on her thirtieth birthday, everything changes.  A phone call from the police, a dead woman and Helen’s name in her pocket, puts Helen in the spotlight and leads her down a path she has fought hard to move past.

#cjsreads: Gone Without A Trace (Mary Torjussen) @BerkleyPub @MaryTorjussen

Another day, another #cjsreads April pick.  As mentioned previously on Clues and Reviews, this one was one of my most anticipated reads for Spring 2017!  Did it live up to the hype?

Keep reading for a synopsis of the book and to see what we all thought of this psychological thriller releasing this week!

Blog Tour: The Beachside Flower Stall (Karen Clarke) @karenclarke123 @bookouture

Ten years ago, Carrie Dashwood left her hometown (and never looked back!) after her best friend, Megan, and her first love, Tom, hooked up.   When her aunt calls her, needing her help to run her flower stall (Ruby’s Blooms), in the beautiful seaside town of Shipley, Carrie finds herself with quite the surprise as she is recruited to arrange flowers for a wedding, which happen to be the nuptials of Megan and Tom! Can Carrie keep her cool and find her own happily ever after?

Heartfelt and hilarious, The Beachside Flower Stall by Karen Clarke was the exact read I needed to get into a “spring” mood and break out of my, seemingly never-ending, reading slump.   This book had me laughing out loud and rooting for the underdog.