Reading With Monie

Review: A Novel Crime by Deborah Vadas Levison

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 04:25:00 +0000

Product Description:

Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She’s green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye. When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into Summer Branigan, her bolder, blonder pen name, she leverages Francesca’s secret to secure the ultimate coauthor.

As their collaboration spirals from Marcy’s modest Connecticut home to Francesca’s lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price. With looming deadlines, a kidnapping plot gone awry, and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.

In this darkly comic page-turner, critically acclaimed author Deborah Levison skewers the publishing industry with razor-sharp wit. A Novel Crime asks just how far an aspiring writer will go to see her name on a book jacket—and what happens when the stories we tell start to write themselves.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the book overall but I knocked my rating by a star because of the ending. Yes, the book was dark humor so I expected a lot of over the top scenarios but the ending was just too much for me.

That aside I had so much fun alternating between loving and hating Marcy and would definitely recommend this for anyone who loves twisted humor.

Books I've Read in 2026

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Books

January

Famous Once by Jane Green
Let Time Fly by John A. Heldt

February

A Novel Crime by Deborah Vadas Levison

March

Witch Is The Lamest Excuse Ever by Adele Abbott

Audiobooks

January

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
The Compound by Aisling Rawle
The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman
Long Shadows by David Baldacci
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Mercy by David Baldacci
Brushfire Craig Alanson
The Widow by John Grisham
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

February

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White
Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft
Fairest of All by Serena Valentino
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Dead in the Water by John Marrs
The List by Steve Berry
The Shell Collector by Hugh Howey
Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

March

Nether Station by Kevin J. Anderson
Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
Talking to Girls About Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield
The Event by Nathan Hystad
On Earth as It Is on Television by Emily Jane
The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (re-read)
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston
The Butcher's Masquerade by Matt Dinniman
These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
Look Closer by David Ellis
Never Whistle at Night by Shane Hawk

April

Morning Star by Pierce Brown
Run by Blake Crouch

Total: 47

Here's what I've read in previous years:

2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

Top 5 Books I've Read in 2026

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:57:00 +0000

The Widow by John Grisham
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian

Books I Didn't Finish in 2026

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:56:00 +0000

Below will be any books I started and didn't finish and the reason why.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

There were too many characters and strange names and nothing grabbed my attention or interest. Although I do love a good fantasy book this one was more High Fantasy than I prefer.

Review: Long Day For Ray by Bonner Litchfield

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:14:00 +0000

Product Description:

Far into the future, scientists discover a new form of time travel. Transferring a human being's consciousness into a person who lived in the past.

Ancient data from the 1980s identifies Ray Caldwell as an ideal human host.

Destined never to create the slightest blip in history, his entire existence adds up to one big nothing. No personal connections. No aspirations or achievements. Not even an occasional paycheck.

Thus, an elite warrior from the future takes over Ray’s mind and body to carry out a mission in twentieth century North Carolina.

But has Ray Caldwell packed more into the stream of life than historical records show? And stirred up a cauldron of troubles wider and deeper than anyone realizes?

Featuring a twisty plot with shocking results, Long Day For Ray melds time travel and body snatching into a maze of violence and retaliation.

This pulse pounding techno thriller delivers a breakneck ride with nonstop action and a high body count. Everything you could want in an unputdownable book.

My Review:

This book was so much fun. It reminded me of an episode of my favorite 80's show Quantum Leap. From the moment the traveler steps into Ray's life, the action is non-stop. I was quickly engrossed in what put Ray in this situation, how the traveler planned to get him out and what his actual mission in the past was.

In just a few short chapters I was sucked in and the ride didn't stop. It's faced paced with a lot of action and an absolute must for suspense thriller lovers.

Review: The Winding Road by John A. Heldt

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Product Description:

Southeast Pennsylvania, November 1777.

For Noah and Jake Maclean, the saga gets real. One year after the brothers entered a time portal and traded the computer age for the colonial age, they rush headlong into the American Revolution.

Noah, 23, rides off to war. Against the wishes of his fiancée, Abigail Ward, he joins the Continental Army as it retreats to Valley Forge. To improve his odds of surviving the rebellion, he brings modern knowledge and pistols, weapons that soon draw the attention of the enemy.

Jake, 16, stays behind. He helps furniture maker Samuel Ward and his family resettle in the country after the British seize Philadelphia. As he supports his newfound kin, he strengthens his relationship with Rachel Ward, Sam's mischievous younger daughter.

The time travelers chart new courses in an era filled with violence, disease, and disruption. In doing so, they leave a mess for relatives tasked with reporting their disappearance.

As Douglas and Donna Maclean confront investigators and reporters in 2024, they do their best to carry out an elaborate ruse, guard an ancient family secret, and use the resources of the present to protect their nephews in the past.

In THE WINDING ROAD, the second book in the Stone Shed trilogy, two brothers find romance, danger, and adventure as they make their way in a world they were never meant to see.

My Review:

I am a super fan of John A. Heldt and have read most of his books. This one was a little less exciting than his previous time travel works. Usually there is so much history in the story that it keeps me reading and wanting to learn more about the historical event but this one felt like a repeat of book 1 with just a little more suspense at the end.

Heldt's formula usually follows a different character's romantic arc each book in the series but in this one there is more of Noah and Abby than I expected because they were the focus in book 1 which is possibly why it felt different to me. I'm hoping the next book in the series advances the story a bit more than what we got in this one.

My Recommendation:

I recommend this to anyone who loves historical romance with a little suspense.

My Top 10

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 20:38:00 +0000

Seeing everyone's Top Reads in 2024 has got me thinking. I've been tracking what I've read on this blog since 2009 but only doing my Top 5 each year since 2014. On this list I'm going to give my Top 10 books of all time. I'm sure many I'm going to miss so many I read before this blog but I'll do my best.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The Martian by Andy Weir
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Watchers by Dean Koontz

Books I've Read in 2025

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 16:32:00 +0000

Books

January

Empty Graves by Jonathan Maberry
Hellhound on My Trail by D.J. Butler
Stiffs and Stones by Kevin J. Anderson

February

Superstition by James Blakey
The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
Witch Is The Hardest Pill To Swallow by Adele Abbott

March

Resurrection, Inc. by Kevin J. Anderson
American Housewife by Anita Abriel

April

Amen Maxine by Faith Gardner
Advent of Libra by Chris Wimpress

June

The Winding Road John A. Heldt
Long Day For Ray Long Day For Ray by Bonner Litchfield

July

The Eleventh Metal by Brandon Sanderson
Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli

August

Case of the Broken Bridge by Shanna Swendson

September

Estate: To my once darling child by J. Andrew Shelley
Witch Is The Joke No One Got by Adele Abbott

October

Mystery of the Secret Santa by Shanna Swendson
Intersect by Elle O'Roark

November

The Pernicious Pixie and the Choked Word by Kelly Ethan

December

Waking Up In Vegas by J.E. Rowney
The Last Father-Daughter Dance by Lisa Wingate

Audiobooks

January

All Fours by Miranda July
Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
The Last Party by A.R. Torre
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Babel by R.F. Kuang
American Rapture by C.J. Leede

February

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Lexicon by Max Barry
Pines by Blake Crouch
Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry

March

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White
The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin
The Will of the Many by James Islington
Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb
Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
The Loch by Steve Alten

April

The Wedding People by Alison Espach
You Killed Me First by John Marrs
If It Bleeds by Stephen King
Wayward by Blake Crouch
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray
Parallel by Elle O'Roark
The Kaiser's Web by Steve Berry
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
The Fifth to Die by J.D. Barker
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
City of Thieves by David Benioff
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

May

Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi
Only Good Enemies by Jennifer Estep
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
The Last Town by Blake Crouch
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
The Night Gardener by George P. Pelecanos
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch
Bunny by Mona Awad
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall

June

Never Flinch by Stephen King
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Going Home in the Dark by Dean Koontz
Shift by Hugh Howey
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C.J. Archer
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

July

Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman

August

The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths
Desperation in Death by J.D. Robb
Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor
The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

September

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar
Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep
The Payback by Kashana Cauley
The Darkest Deep by Chris Butera
Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline
Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich
The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown
Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell
The Winners by Fredrik Backman
The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

October

The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
Red Rising by Pierce Brown (re-read)
The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
The Graveyard Shift by D.M. Guay
Monster Burger by D.M. Guay
Hell for the Holidays by D.M. Guay
Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
The Burning Hollow by Ryan Schow

November

Labyrinth by A.G. Riddle
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Circle of Days by Ken Follett
Critical Mass by Craig Alanson
Leonard by Carlie Sorosiak
Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

December

The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman
Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E Taylor
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Last Word by Lisa Lutz
Now or Never by Janet Evanovich
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
Encore in Death by J.D. Robb
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes Chanel Cleeton
Only Cold Depths by Jennifer Estep
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
The Minders by John Marrs
Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero
Strangers in Time by David Baldacci

Total: 180

Here's what I've read in previous years:

2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

Top 5 Books I've Read in 2025

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 16:27:00 +0000

The Favorites by Layne Fargo
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Books I Didn't Finish in 2025

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 16:17:00 +0000

Below will be any books I started and didn't finish and the reason why.

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

To be fair I was only a couple of chapters in before I gave up on this one but I just couldn't keep my attention on the audiobook version so I'm passing on this one.

The Fragile Threads of Power Victoria E. Schwab

I tried getting into this one twice but the pace of the story was too slow and I kept losing my focus.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

I disliked the main character, Cyrus, right off the bat and just couldn't see myself getting through the whole book. It also didn't help that I listened to this one on audio and it irritated me that the volume of the narrator's voice was so low.

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic Meghan Ciana Doidge

I think the 2010s burned me out on vampires, urban fantasy and paranormal books. I just couldn't engage with the characters or the story.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

I started and restarted this one audio four times and just couldn't keep my attention on the book.

Review: The Forgotten Son by BJ Sloan

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:16:00 +0000

Product Description:

The kind-hearted delivery nurse had no way of knowing that her well-intentioned words would doom Bunny Boy Potts to a lifetime of ridicule. Well, that and the unfortunate way his ears stuck out like two ping-pong paddles.

Living with his unhinged single mother, his entire life is spent apologizing for existing while scraping by for enough to survive. Food and love—neither is freely available in the Potts’ home, but the sharp sting of the strap is always on standby.

When Bunny meets Raquel, he thinks she could take him from scarecrow misfit to normal teen. Growing in the sunshine of her approval, Bunny even gets a job from his rancher neighbor, TC. For the first time in his life, Bunny can buy clothes that fit. He can eat enough to stave off the hunger that used to sing him to sleep every night. Along with a paycheck, he earns a nickname and the grudging respect of those around him as he begins to rise above the hand he’s been dealt.

But Bunny Boy Potts wasn’t meant to have a life like everyone else.

My Thoughts:

The Forgotten Son was really a heartbreaking story. Bunny was raised by his mom, who seemingly blamed him for his very existence, in a household with no love and when he finally meets Raquel who is willing to be his friend, he doesn't fully know how to process it and pushes too far.

I really wanted to love Bunny and I started too but then when his relationship with Raquel doesn't go his way his character becomes less likeable. Either way I was fully engrossed in the story and was rooting for him all the way.

My Recommendation:

I recommend this for anyone who loves an engrossing fiction story.

Review: The Patriots by John A. Heldt

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 21:06:00 +0000

Product Description:

When Noah Maclean, 22, races home from Europe, he finds a dying grandfather, a hidden letter, and a family secret that dates to the 1740s. He learns he is the keeper of a stone shed that can send people through time.

Within weeks, Noah and his brother, Jake, 15, test their inheritance. They travel to 1776 to see Philadelphia in the age of Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration of Independence, and the American Revolution.

Expecting to return within weeks, the orphaned brothers make the most of their field trip through history. Then they meet the lovely daughters of a furniture maker, and a pleasant adventure becomes a transformative journey.

Filled with humor, romance, and heartbreak, THE PATRIOTS follows two lost souls through a critical moment in time as they adjust to new surroundings and wrestle with knowledge of things to come.

My Thoughts:

Time travel books are always a favorite genre of mine and John A. Heldt is an expert at writing a story that pulls you in right from the beginning and keeps you hooked throughout the adventure. The Patriots is the start of a new series from Heldt that sends two brothers from 2024 to Philadelphia in 1776. Imagine meeting and having a conversation with Ben Franklin!

The story is very well researched and since I'm not a history buff the book made me go back and seek out more details of the original events. So not only am I reading an enjoyable fiction story, I'm learning more about American history.

My Recommendation:

I cannot wait for the next book in the series and recommend this for anyone who loves romance, time travel and historical fiction all rolled into one.

Review: Feral Creatures of Suburbia by D. Liebhart

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:07:00 +0000

Product Description:

THREE ORDINARY MOTHERS. TWO TERRIBLE SECRETS. ONE HEART-STOPPING CRISIS THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Mothers will do anything to protect their children . . . but the greatest threats come from within.

Julie White's once-sweet son has morphed into a teenage terror. She hoped it was normal growing pains but a glimpse into his private messages shatters that illusion. Now she wonders if her moody teen is actually a ticking time bomb.

Varvara Perlman's researcher job is hard, but caring for her emotionally-complex daughter is harder. After dismissing the latest call from the school counselor as another ploy for attention, she can only hope it's not too late when she finally understands. This latest crisis may not only be real, but deadly.

Crystal Carrasco is as warm and fuzzy as steel wool. Nothing gets to her, not even her own terminal illness diagnosis. When she realizes her newly-married son will cancel his upcoming honeymoon if he finds out, she decides to do the only thing that makes sense. Do whatever it takes to hide the truth.

Three ordinary women linked by one heart-stopping crisis. When faced with the unthinkable, how far will they have to go to protect their children?

My Thoughts:

Feral Creatures of Suburbia was really one of those "ripped from the headlines" kind of books. All three characters are dealing with situations that sadly we see happen so often nowadays. I was instantly pulled in by the characters and their difficult decisions.

Each mother had a difficult decision regarding their children and as so often is the case they start second guessing everything over the course of the novel. I was moved by the real emotions coming through the pages and the author made the story come alive. I am eternally grateful I got through my son's teen years with no major troubles and watched friends and family deal with difficulties all the time.

This one is very powerful and deals with topics we all hope we never have to face; violence, suicide and mental and physical health. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves women's fiction and current headlines.

Review: Mexicanos Hustle by J Benjamin Sanders

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 18:53:00 +0000

Product Description:

Glenn Helka’s business has never been what you’d call lucrative. But chasing bond jumpers and following cheating spouses pays the bills. Most of the bills. Some of the time. Occasionally.

When a woman drops a fat stack of cash on his desk to bring her wayward son home from Mexico, Glenn thinks he has it made. One tiny detail—the son is dead, and the local authorities are refusing to release his body.

Was it the money or the haunting look on the face of the bereaved mother? Maybe it was Glenn’s barely functioning moral compass finally pointing true north. Or, in this case, south to Mexico where he takes on corrupt government officials, drug-dealing hitmen, and everything the desert can throw at him.

My Thoughts:

Mexicanos Hustle was a fun noir crime mystery. Not only did Glenn have to deal with the very crooked Mexican authorities but he also had to deal with two low life thugs chasing him across the border.

This was a fast-paced read that kept me reading late into the night. Overall I enjoyed the story and how the ending played out.

Recommended for anyone who loves crime fiction.

Review: Come and Get Me by Marisa Rae Dondlinger

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Thu, 30 May 2024 14:17:00 +0000

Product Description:

When Vanessa kidnaps her ex-lover’s newborn baby, some might call her evil. Those who know her story might call her justified.

Vanessa thought she found her soulmate in August. Mind-bending sex. Soul-baring conversations. Safety and acceptance and being seen. Perhaps too perfect? Yes. August is married to his college sweetheart, Cassidy. When Vanessa gets pregnant, August manipulates Vanessa into getting an abortion with promises of a future together, but dumps her soon after. Vanessa plots her revenge, kidnapping August’s baby, Daisy, from her nursery.

Each member of this haunting love triangle tells their story as a nationwide search for Daisy ensues. August’s secret affairs play a pivotal role in the police investigation, Cassidy learns her marriage is a sham, and Vanessa struggles to keep Daisy alive.

Come And Get Me is a forty-eight hour pulse-pounding domestic thriller that explores issues of truth and consequence and how one decision can have an unforeseeable rippling effect on countless lives.

My Thoughts:

Come and Get Me was very much a page turner. The chapters frequently ended on a cliff hanger that left me reading well past my bedtime. The book really gets into the mind of the scorned woman well and as the story unravels she gets even more unhinged. I love these types of fast-paced, well written thrillers. It makes the read that much more enjoyable.

My Recommendation:

This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good suspense thriller.

Review: All Of Us Alone by Holly Payne-Strange

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:20:00 +0000

Product Description:

In the dead of night, an alien family crashes into the middle of New Mexico. Refugees from across the stars, they've only just escaped a planet wide catastrophe when they arrive on Earth. But they are not given a warm welcome.

The remnants of their crashed spacecraft are swiftly appropriated by the US military, stranding them entirely. Adapting to this unwelcoming new world becomes their only choice. Though they manage to evade the army, they are quickly pursued by

so called ‘paranormal investigators’, who want nothing more than to catch them on camera- and expose them to the whole world. They must adjust swiftly to this new and hostile planet, where a single misstep could mean death- or worse, brutal experimentation.

As they grapple with the strangenes of Earth, they are forced to choose between their true selves and survival, deciding which pieces of their identity to relinquish for a chance at life. What must they sacrifice in order to live? And what's more, how could they even know?

Explore a captivating journey through uncharted territories, where a family's fight for survival transcends planets, and the human experience takes on a whole new hue.

My Thoughts:
I loved the storyline of aliens crash landing on earth after fleeing their home planet. We've seen this story before but this one was a fun take on what the aliens were up to while on earth and their quest to get back to the stars. The younger aliens are running around trying to get a glimpse of what humans are really like, the parents are struggling with their current reality and working on putting their destroyed ship back together and the grandparents are working hard at keeping their secret regarding why they had to flee their planet.

All in all I really enjoyed this one but I feel like it needs just a little more polish with editing and explaining more about how the aliens know everything about our planet and humans. Other than that I recommend this to anyone who loves a quick sci-fi read.

Books I've Read in 2024

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:44:00 +0000

Books

January

All of Us Alone by Holly Payne-Strange

February

Witch Is Where Chickens Go To Roost by Adele Abbott

April

The Texas Twist by John Vorhaus

May

Come And Get Me by Marisa Rae Dondlinger
Tiger Chair by Max Brooks

June

Mexicanos Hustle by J Benjamin Sanders

July

Acts of Violets by Kate Collins

August

Feral Creatures of Suburbia by D. Liebhart

October

The Patriots by John A. Heldt

November

The Forgotten Son BJ Sloan
Witch Is The Nest Now Empty by Adele Abbott

December

Ushers by Joe Hill

Audiobooks

January

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

February

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
Antarctica Station by A.G. Riddle
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

March

The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

April

The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz
In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros
Camino Island by John Grisham
The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill
Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

May

They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
Slow Time Between the Stars John Scalzi
The Mosquito by B.A. Paris
The Authorities by Scott Meyer
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
Snowglobe by Soyoung Park
A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
The Love of my Life by Rosie Walsh

June

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

July

A Short Walk Through a Wide World Douglas Westerbeke
Camino Winds by John Grisham
You Like It Darker by Stephen King
Bloodsworn by Scott Reintgen
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

August

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
The Other Valley Howard by Scott Alexander
The Lost Story by Meg Shaf
Quicksilver by Dean Koontz
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Stoner by John Williams

September

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

October

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
The Hike by Drew Magary
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
The Future by Naomi Alderman
I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

November

Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
The Secret History by Donna Tartt

December

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Keep It in the Family by John Marrs
How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
Victim by Andrew Boryga
James by Percival Everett
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Persephone by Kevin J. Anderson, Jeffrey Morris
The Women by Kristin Hannah

Total: 79

Here's what I've read in previous years:

2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

Top 5 Books I've Read in 2024

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:39:00 +0000

James by Percival Everett
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Books I Didn't Finish in 2024

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:38:00 +0000

Below will be any books I started and didn't finish and the reason why.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

I started on this one twice but I just couldn't get into the story. Nothing about it caught my attention.

Becky by Sarah May

I just didn't care about the characters or story. I bailed about 1/3 in.

Books I Didn't Finish in 2023

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 02:13:00 +0000

Below will be any books I started and didn't finish and the reason why.

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

I was listening to this on audio and by part 3 I had no clue what was going on so I bailed.

Do They Know It's Christmas Yet by James Crookes

The narration was terrible on this one and it made it too distracting to continue listening

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

I just couldn't get into the story which is an issue I have with a lot of classics. I thought listening to this one would help me get past it but no such luck.

Top 5 Books I've Read in 2023

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 02:11:00 +0000

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Amok by Barry Eisler
Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor

Books I've Read in 2023

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Books

January

Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep

March

The California Roll by John Vorhaus
Witch Is Where Decisions Are Made by Adele Abbott

April

Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman

May

Brute Force by Scott Meyer

June

Witch Is Where Gnomes Rule by Adele Abbott
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

August

Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor by Shawn M. Warner

September

Heart Stings by Jennifer Estep

October

The Midnight Ride by Ben Mezrich

November

Spider and Frost by Jennifer Estep

December

Secret of the Haunted Hotel by Shanna Swendson
Witch Is Where Cats Always Win by Adele Abbott

Audiobooks

January

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

February

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
Amok by Barry Eisler
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
The Chain by Adrian McKinty

March

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
The Omega Factor by Steve Berry
Full Tilt by Emma Scott
If He Had Been with Me Laura Nowlin
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

April

Quantum Radio by A.G. Riddle
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
Tear Down the Throne by Jennifer Estep
The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White

May

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes
It's One of Us by J.T. Ellison

June

Dream Town by David Baldacci
The Ruins by Scott Smith
No Kindness Too Soon by Sylvain Neuvel
Redshirts by John Scalzi
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor

July

Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc by Ash Bishop
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
The Book Club On Waverly Lane by Rachel Hanna
The Strange by Nathan Ballingrud
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
The Albuquerque Turkey by John Vorhaus
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Forgotten in Death by JD Robb

August

An Unkindness of Magicians Kat Howard
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel

September

The Other Place by Nathan Hystad
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
Until the Last of Me by Sylvain Neuvel
Conquer the Kingdom by Jennifer Estep

October

Starter Villain by John Scalzi
The Running Man Stephen King
Slot Machine Fever Dreams by Chris Bohjalian
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Flux by Jinwoo Chong
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perrotta
Wool by Hugh Howey

November

Feed by M.T. Anderson
A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
The Village Healer’s Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts

December

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Holly by Stephen King

Total: 84

Here's what I've read in previous years:

2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

Review: The Refuge by John A. Heldt

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 01 May 2022 00:59:00 +0000

Product Description:

Months after stealing two time machines, the Lanes, a modern family of seven, make a stand against the unhinged software mogul who wants them back. They travel to 1941 Oahu to eliminate the billionaire's mercenary, an assassin who has chased them through time.

While son Jordan, a former intelligence officer, stalks his unknowing foe in the streets of Honolulu, his parents, younger siblings, and pregnant wife settle in the village of Laie, where love, friendship, and opportunity await. All seek refuge from the perils of time travel.

Hit man Silas Bain has his own agenda. He hopes to alter the events of December 7, 1941, and indirectly save a brilliant German physicist, his employer's grandfather, from certain death. He has prepared for every contingency, except the charms of a beautiful heiress.

Filled with romance, suspense, and intrigue, THE REFUGE takes readers on a thrilling and memorable ride through the colorful, magical, and dangerous world of pre-Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

My Thoughts:

The Refuge is the 4th book in the Time Box Series which follows the Lane family through time as they flee from the ruthless killer pursing them. Reading the first 3 books in the series is a must. Not only for the story continuation but for the enjoyment of a great series.

Each book in the series is similar in how everything unfolds but they each have a unique historical event, new characters to love and different actions that cause the family to travel through time again. The Lane family are cherished characters and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

My Recommendation:

As usual I recommend this series to anyone who loves time travel, romance and historical fiction.

Review: Witch's Gamble by Mark Rosendorf

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 15:45:00 +0000

Product Description:

It's been nearly two hundred years since Isis, Zack, and The Witches of Vegas saved New Salem from the Wiccan vampire, Valeria. Now, Isis is a vampire and the most powerful witch in the world. Zack is also a vampire, and the president of New Salem. They thought the threat was long behind them. But Valeria escaped into the past where she set history on a horrific path.

Now, everything has changed around Isis. New Salem is destroyed, Valeria is queen of Earth, and no one has heard of Zack. To save reality, Isis must travel through time, reliving events from a history she barely recognizes, and find a way to set reality back on course. Not that she has any idea how to do that, or how to avoid the all-powerful Valeria in the process.

Isis will face challenges she can't possibly overcome, yet she must, or every single life from the past, present, and future is doomed.

My Thoughts:

Witch's Gamble is book 3 in the Witches of Vegas YA series and you would definitely want to read the first 2 so you know who all the characters are and why they are in their current situation. I was a bit surprised that the book opened with 200 years passing since book 2 but it weaves into the story perfectly once the action gets going. Isis has a troubling task ahead of her and even with the experiences she's gained over the years it's still difficult for her to overcome and outwit Valeria. Being able to travel through time you'd think it would be easy to defeat her but there are plenty of challenges that keep Isis wondering if she'll ever be able to save her loved ones and the world.

My Recommendation:

YA is sometimes too over the top for me to love a book or series but The Witches of Vegas perfectly captures the teen voice making the series an enjoyable break from reality. I recommend this series to anyone who loves YA with a light paranormal twist.

Review: Sea Spray by John A. Heldt

noreply@blogger.com (MonieG) — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:32:00 +0000

Product Description:

Months after stealing two time machines from a madman who wants them back, the Lanes, a family of seven, seek peace and safety in 1927, the latest stop on a journey through time. For a while, each succeeds.

Parents Mark and Mary find housing in affluent East Hampton, New York, where a gracious elderly couple offers use of their mansion. Son Jordan and his new wife, Jessie, plan a family. Siblings Laura, Jeremy, and Ashley pursue fun and adventure. All form strong friendships with the Prices, a mysterious mirror-image family that lives next door.

Billionaire Robert Devereaux could not care less. Reeling from the theft of his million-dollar devices, he sends a hit man to the past to retrieve his property and rid the world of his former business partner and his troublesome clan.

Randy Taylor, who programs the machines, is determined to stop him. He tries to undermine his boss and save the Lanes, even as he tries to help his mother beat a deadly illness. He pines for the day he can join his fugitive friends and rekindle a promising relationship with Laura Lane.

Filled with romance, humor, and heartbreak, SEA SPRAY follows a modern family on the adventure of a lifetime as they navigate their way through the exciting and often dangerous world of Lindbergh, Gershwin, and Fitzgerald.

My Thoughts:

Sea Spray is book #3 in the Time Box series. As usual, this book is well researched as are all of the books in Heldt's many time travel series. You get a small peek into real historical events with a unique storyline starring a family from 2022. In Sea Spray the Lane's have traveled to the roaring 20's.

On the run, the family tries to blend in with the locals and become close friends with their affluent neighbors. Romance meets adventure with a dash of intrigue, you get sucked in pretty quickly. Surprises pop up at every twist and turn of the plot which kept me reading long past my bedtime.

My Recommendation:

I recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic time travel and if you haven't read the first two, don't skip them. Sea Spray is fantastic but The Fair is extraordinary and you won't want to miss any of the action.