1. Junie – This took a bit to get into and at parts it dragged on, but in the end I absolutely loved it. Junie has spent her entire life enslaved on a plantation in Alabama. She has been the attendant to the daughter of the home, Violet and they have both grown up together. Now in their late teens, Junie faces the inevitable truth that once Violet goes off to get married, Junie must follow her. That means leaving her family and all she has ever known. In her desperation for freedom and to stay with her loved ones, Junie commits various acts to hopefully derail Violet’s plans. Throughout all this, Junie becomes aware of some devastating truths about the whereabouts of her own birth mother and what really happened to cause the death of her beloved older sister. Rating: 8
2. Too Close To Home – An easy thriller that will keep you engaged from the beginning! Residents of a wealthy lakefront community are faced with tragedy when a car explodes killing one person during the annual Labor Day party. It was Regan’s car but she let a friend use it during the party to go pick up more supplies. Was the bomb meant for her? And if so, why? As Regan looks into the possible motive behind the bombing, she discovers dark secrets from those in her inner circle which makes her wonder if she ever knew her friends. So many secrets but the truth has to come out at some point but at what cost?! This was one of my favorite kind of thrillers to read because the story is easy to follow with tons of twists that keep me guessing the whole time. Rating: 9
3. Caller Unknown – I kept wanting this book to get better but it never really did. I finished it because I wanted to know how it would end but the story dragged on slowly for being a mystery/thriller. Simone is flying from London to spend some time with her daughter Lucy, who is currently spending time at a camp in Texas before she begins university. But on the first morning of their vacation, Simone wakes to find Lucy kidnapped. Forcefully taken in the middle of the night with no idea of who could have taken her. Shortly after, Simone is contacted by the kidnappers with ransom instructions. Simone’s husband urges her to call the police instead of trying to get Lucy back herself, but Simone feels that will put Lucy in more danger. Though the premise of the book had potential, there was too much detail that bogged down the story. Rating: 7
4. Dead Girls Book Club – The ending of this book will have your jaw on the floor! A true twist like no other. Amelia’s husband is a detective hunting down a serial killer. He’s always working leaving Amelia alone with no family or friends to talk to. While visiting a local coffee shop, Amelia meets a few other women who invite her to join their book club. Excited to make some new friends, Amelia arrives to the book club only to find out it’s not what she imagined. These women are bonded in a way that makes Amelia hesitant but decides that she will take the chance in getting to know them. As her husband’s case heats up, Amelia realizes that these women may know more about the killer than the police do. All I can say is that wherever you think this book is going, it takes a sharp turn at the end! Ha! Rating: 8.5
5. The Briar Club – I never wanted this book to end! I would only allow myself to listen to a few chapters at a time because I wanted the story to last forever. And the story was told from so many different points of view but it all came together beautifully! It takes place in Washington D.C. during the 1950’s following the lives of the women living at the Briarwood House, a female boardinghouse in the nation’s capitol. This group of women come from all walks of life, each with their own story of what led them to live at Briarwood. While they all start out as strangers, bonds form that allow the women to create a community of support in a tumultuous time in history. After a murder occurs on Thanksgiving, authorities come to investigate only to find out that some of the women have been keeping secrets that will shock everyone. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year! Rating: 9.5
6. The Wrong Daughter – I enjoyed 3/4 of this book until things began to unravel in the end. The plot got a bit too weird and dramatic which ruined it a bit for me. But the majority of the book had me completely perplexed (in the best way!). Caitlin and Olivia were finally old enough to stay home alone so they thought they would have a fun night enjoying a bit of freedom. When their parents arrive back at home, they are horrified to find Olivia’s room empty and Caitlin in shock. Someone had come into the home and kidnapped Olivia while Caitlin watched the whole thing in horror. He wore a mask but her memory of that night has haunted her for her entire life. Now 16 years later, Caitlin gets a call from her parents saying Olivia has shown back up and escaped her captor. The family is elated that Olivia is still alive and come back to them, but Caitlin is unsure about the story Olivia shares with them about where she has been these past 16 years. Things begin to fracture within the family when Caitlin questions if Olivia is even who she says she is. Even though the ending is rushed and ridiculous, the majority of the book is a wild ride and entertaining. Rating: 8.5
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