The Watcher Review

I hope this is going to be a hit! This is Caroline’s second published book in the states. I am going to have to check out her first now!

I have to admit, I wasn’t too enthused about this book. However, I am trying to build my reputation with Netgalley by reading any book they will hand me because my “book allowance” isn’t near what I want it to be.  I thought the cover was too plain, sort of old fashioned I guess.  It also took me awhile to get into the story.

However, once I did actually focus on it, I really enjoyed it!!!!  I am not saying it was a slow beginning….  just I wasn’t in the mood. I also prefer real books so when I have a kindle, it takes longer. But,  I knew I had to get it read by publication date though so I made myself sit and read.

Elena is in the middle of a separation with her husband, Peter.  She desperately wants him back and is depressed.  Her sister is trying to make sure Elena keeps her head above water but Elena is making it difficult.  With a history of anorexia, her sister is very worried about her.

Her new neighbor’s son loves reading and has found out that Elena is an author.  He begins to come over almost daily and confides to her about his home life.  Elena can’t help but worry and/or wonder about her new neighbors.  It is easy to find things going wrong in other’s lives when yours isn’t so great.  She begins to write and blocking everyone out.  She does still enjoy peeking into the neighbor’s lives and maybe even writing about what she is imagining is going on.  Between what Leo tells her and what she sees, she thinks she has it all figured out.  She even tries to stop Leo’s mom from making a huge mistake.

Is it Veronica’s mistake or her own that she is trying to stop?

The truth and fiction all start to run together which makes the ending awesome!!!!

This book has the best twist I have read since Behind Her Eyes.  Now, it is nowhere as twisted as Behind Her Eyes (I don’t think anyone can come up with something to top that) but I am very glad I stuck with it and I am very appreciative of Netgalley allowing me to read this ARC.  Be sure and pick up a copy of this book on Amazon on September 18, 2018.

Characters (Don’t worry, no spoilers)

Elena – Main, Author, Freelancer

Walter – Brother in law

Peter – Elenas ex

Philip Storm – Neighbor

Veronica – Neighbor

Leo – Neighbor’s son, 14

Anna – Girlfriend

Thomas – Elenas first boyfriend

One thing that really annoyed me about this book???? I don’t think it ever said the name of her sister!!!

 

 

 

The Home Book Review

WOW!!!!!!!  I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

I wasn’t expecting much since it is on the Kindle Unlimited list but it was awesome. I haven’t been so surprised at the ending since “Behind Her Eyes”.

Angela was given up for adoption and raised in an orphanage.  Abused off and on, she seemed to turn out okay despite not getting adopted until she was 14.

Growing up, she had mixed feelings about meeting her birth mother.  When her adopted father, James, gets sick, he encourages Angela to meet her birth mom, Evelyn.  Despite her resentment towards her mother, she did to appease her dad.

Evelyn has a history of drugs and alcohol abuse.  Is she imagining things or is someone really following her?  She lives in a not so good neighborhood where there has been a recent murder.  However, none of this stuff started happening until she met her birth daughter, Angela.

I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.  I loved it. I am going to search any books by Karen Osman immediately after hitting publish.  This book is going to be released on September 4.  Get it!!!!  Here is the link to Amazon.

 

 

The Weight of Silence Book Review

Oh wow!!!  I didn’t know if I was going to be into this book since it is a second in a series.  However, it is great!  I am definitely going to move forward and read anymore books that Greg Olsen writes.

Nicole is a cop with a gambling addiction that has been hovering over her head.  She hasn’t gambled since she got custody of her niece, Emma.  Emma is her world and she will do anything for her.

Stacy is Emma’s mother who left and did not want Emma.  Thinking that Emma will never return because of a secret she holds over Stacy, she tells Emma, her mother is dead.  Surprisingly, Emma returns with a Vengeance and wants to see Emma and be a part of her life.  Can Nicole trust Stacy now?  Has she really changed?

During all the family drama, there is also a murder case that Nicole is trying to solve.  A child no less………….. left to die in the car.  Was it an accident or was it the father who was sexting numerous people while married to Mia.  Did he really forget his daughter in the car?

Nicole has a secret herself and could go to prison if she outs Stacy for her secret.  Maybe killing Stacy would make it easier?  I mean, she is a cop and she knows how an investigation will go.

I loved this book! I thought I had it figured out but I didn’t.  It begins with a horrific car crash as a prologue and the crash continues at the very end.  It grabbed me from the beginning.  Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Weight of Silence.  I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here is a link to the book on Amazon.

Guess Who Book Review

I was excited to get the chance to read this book. I immediately thought of the movie, Saw. Of course, it wasn’t as brutal but it was still pretty good.

Sheppard is the host of an investigation show.  He’s always wanted to be famous from the time he was a young boy.  Recognized by everyone, he is quick to be either loved or hated by his fans.  The story begins with him waking up in a hotel room with five strangers and a dead body.  He is the only person tied up though.  After all the people wake up, the TV screen comes on and a man wearing a horse mask comes on to say he has 3 hours to figure out which one of his new “friends” killed the person in the tub.  If he does not solve the puzzle, the hotel will be blown up.

The demographics in the room is straining on Sheppard.  After speaking with one another, they all know who the dead body is. However, who killed him?  The story is full of drama, name calling, blaming, etc.  It is obvious that the “horseman” knows Sheppard personally but who is he?

I did like the book and wanted to figure the puzzle out.  I did think the killer was obvious though no matter how hard the author tried to hide it.  I was still interested though because I then wanted to know how it was done.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review through Netgalley.  You may order a copy Guess Who from Amazon.

 

Book characters: 

Sheppard – Main

Mandy – person locked in room with her

Alan – attorney, locked in room

Ryan – Locked in room

Constance – Locked in room, Christian

Horseman – Crazy person

Dr. Winter – Sheppards psychiatrist

Headphones – stuck in room, aka Rhona

Abby – Winter’s daughter

Douglas Perry – Sheppards only friend

Eren – Childhood friend

Mr. Jeffries – Teacher who died

Martin – janitor

 

 

This isn’t the end of your story

If you were to be able to invite five people to dinner, dead or alive, who would it be?

Sabrina gets this opportunity for her 30th birthday.  Actually, I am sitting here writing this and I am wanting to say the dinner was a surprise but I can’t remember who planned the party if it was so I don’t wanna lie to ya.  I remember her and her bestie, Jessica had made the list when they were younger but I am thinking only Audrey Hepburn and her birth father, Robert were on that list.  I don’t remember how the others got the invite to show up to the party.

Anyways, Sabrina is having her 30th bday party with five special guests:

Audrey Hepburn: movie star from the old days

Professor Conrad – old college professor

Tobias – boyfriend of ten years

Jessica – Best Friend

Robert – her real father

Sabrina was raised by her mom.  Her dad had left when she was really young.  Sabrina always wondered about her dad but yet she also has a lot of anger and resentment towards him as well.  I really related to her on this part.  My dad was in my life when I got older but wasn’t in the beginning.  My step dad was my “daddy” but then he left when I turned 8 so that’s when my mom wanted me to be a part of my dad’s life. Well, that was awkward…………  He was a great man though.   I know he loved me. I never wondered that for a second.  I was very guarded from a young age though so I never let him in.

Okay…………..  Dr. Phil moment……. (old school Dr. Phil, not the new Dr. Phil) 

The dinner starts out kind of awkward.  Sabrina is still having issues with her ex that need to be resolved.  Nobody has seen each other in quite sometime, or ever met for that matter.

There is Jessica who in my opinion needs to shut up but that’s just me.  She is all about herself. However, I do sort of see her point towards the end.  I think friendships are like marriages, you have to work at them.  They aren’t always perfect.

Robert and her obviously have things to talk about as well.  Sabrina just wants to know if her father regretted his actions and if he loved her.  Every person would wonder I feel like.

I really don’t know why she had her old Professor there.  I mean, I think she really liked his class and stuff but it wasn’t like she needed anything from him or Vice Versa.  OOOOHHHHH ! I remember now. He had weekly field trips where he would teach and she met Tobias for the first time on one of those field trips.

Sabrina had grown up watching Audrey’s movies.  She doesn’t have a huge part in the book but does talk to Sabrina and help her make decisions. I am embarrassed to say it but I have never seen an Audrey Hepburn movie!!!!  Isn’t that awful??!!! Of course, I have never seen Sound of Music either.  I would love to. It isn’t like we have blockbuster anymore though to run down and rent them.

So who would you invite to dinner?  Mine is really hard but easy at the same time.   

Mandy – My best friend in High School.  I had to move my senior year and we didn’t get to talk much after.  That was back then when your parents wouldn’t let you call friends cause it was long distance.  She died 2 months after graduation. We had written letters back and forth the entire time.  She was always meddling in my “love” life. She got the final say two years ago cause I am now engaged to her brother.  I wish she was here so I could call and bitch every time he got on my nerves. She would be the sister I never had.

My mom – she was taken so suddenly without a trace.  I just want the answers and what was really going on in that house with her husband.  We never had a great mom/daughter relationship but I miss her everyday!

Dwayne Johnson – because at this moment he is my favorite actor.  Yes he sucks at acting but he is funny.  We will need some humor at my dinner because that is how I deal with life. But at the same time, I can feel his back muscles too.

And that’s where I can’t finish my list.  I want to say my grandmas because I miss them so much but it isn’t like I don’t have any unfinished business with them.  I like to think that they know everything that is going on in my life since they’re watching over me so we wouldn’t have to catch up really.  I know they died when I was in my 20s.  However, I do not remember anything about it.  I have tried to recall the funeral, time before, and time after but I can’t.  I don’t know if that is good or bad.

Okay……………. this blog post is morbid!!!!! 

The Dinner List was pretty good.  It goes back and forth from the dinner conversation and Sabrina and Tobia’s relationship.  Towards the middle, there is a twist which makes it more interesting. I was starting to get bored but that changed things.  It is a sweet love story though.  However, even if things hadn’t ended like they did, I think they would have eventually.  Who knows though.

I received a copy of this ARC from Flatiron Books in exchange for a review.  Thank you so much for this opportunity.  It was definitely on my TBR list.

 

 

AT and T Sucks

When my boyfriend and I moved in together, we decided to do an apartment. I mean, we dated for like 2 months before making this huge decision!  I was from “Old Pearland” where it is nice and there are families walking down the street and it doesn’t take 30 minutes to drive a mile.  Well, we moved to “new Pearland”. I knew it wasn’t the best but we were in a hurry and just needed somewhere to stay.  There are three apartment complexes in a line. I went to one and we signed up that day.

Yes I should’ve searched around more, I know

When moving in, they said the ONLY company we can get WiFi or Cable through is AT and T.  I had never had it before. I really didn’t care.

OMG!  This is the worse company I have ever had to deal with.  I had Direct TV for 18 years and I never had a problem. With AT and T,  if a few clouds come in, we are guaranteed to be without cable AND WiFi.

FF two years and we are still in the apartment.  Believe me, it isn’t our first choice but you have to make sacrifices to save money for your future right?  Well, since July 15, we have had WiFi and cable a total of 3 days! Three!!!!  It is now August 3, 2018 and we still do not have cable!  I did receive a call on Tuesday with them letting me know it would be out until tomorrow (yea right).  She said they should have everything fixed by then.  My response?  “Well, thanks for the heads up 2 weeks later ma’am”.

Sunday, a technician did come out because I had put in a service call on Friday.  Mind you, he was suppose to show up on Saturday but he never did.  When he came, he told me immediately that he probably wouldn’t be able to do anything and told me about some wire switching going on.  I asked why they didn’t tell me that originally when I called and he said the customer service does not know about things like that going on in the field.  Really???  Do ya’ll think a little communication would help by chance?  He said that I was the tenth call that day.  However, it isn’t a technical problem that can be fixed. It is an inside problem that only the field guys can take care of.

So, here is how we have occupied ourselves since we haven’t had cable. I personally think AT and T should reimburse us back for all the expense it has cost us: 

Went to eat at Lupe tortillas cause we were so bored.  Of course, that meant Margaritas which brings your tab up pretty high –  Cost 110.00

We had his daughter the first day everything went out.  Um, she’s 13 and almost died within five minutes of no phone and no TV.  Her and I had to go get pedicures –  Cost 80.00

RedBox movie rentals – 46.00

Pappasitos one night – 150.00

Salt Grass Sunday afternoon – 100.00

Sitting at home all weekend waiting on someone to show up and missing my annual girl’s weekend because of it – priceless

So I think it is fair to say AT and T owes me about $500 and a weekend get-away with my friends that I missed out on. What do you think they will offer me? I am sure $50 is all they’ll do. Oh, but they will “apologize for any inconvenience” while laughing cause they don’t give a crap!

Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let’s not forget that this past Monday was my monthly bookclub discussion.  I had to lead it (for my first time ever) and was really nervous.  Of course, I can’t even get on FB when it is time to start discussion!!!  I had to drive to McDonald’s and sit there for an hour in my PJs and lead it on my phone!

BTW, I know that you can run equipment through your data or hotspot.  We are not idiots. However, in “New Pearland” all data sucks and we have one bar.

It just pisses me off that we don’t have a choice who our provider is.  I am sure if we did have a choice, they would be working after hours, on weekend, etc. to make sure we are all happy.  However, they know we have to stick with them so they do not care about their customer service.  

 

 

 

 

 

Wouldn’t ya think?

I haven’t written on here in forever.  So to my 4 followers, I am so sorry if you have missed me.   I hope your despair has not been to traumatic.

I’ve had a crazy few years.  However, today, I want to vent.

So, my ex and I divorced like 15 years ago now.  I won’t bash him or say all the crazy psycho stuff that I had to put up with through the years but once my kids graduated I felt as though I was done from him.

Yay!!!!  

Fast forward to now, I have a boyfriend and we’ve been together for 2 and a half years.  For the first time, I don’t cringe when a man touches me or even puts his hand on my knee when we are driving in the car.  Its’ so weird.

Anyway, when my first husband and I were together, there was an issue with paying bills.  I thought we were totally broke but apparently we weren’t.  He just liked to spend money on more important things.  Grant it, it was only like 800.00 a month he was scamming but when you’re poor, that is a lot of money. And honestly, it is still a lot of money to me. He now makes a considerable amount of money and that is great.  He helps our girls out and has a good life.  However, I am sick and tired of his bill collectors calling me and my boyfriend’s phone looking for him all the time!!!!

I mean come on!!!!  You’re 45 years old, you make well into the 6 figures and you can’t pay your bills still ????  I have text him the numbers to call back and I get a “F you” or no response.

Wouldn’t you think he would be embarrassed that his bill collectors are calling his ex-wife and her boyfriend after 15 years apart??? I mean, they have had to do some research to find my boyfriend’s cell number.  Just sayen!

 

 

 

Lisa Scottoline – Feared

When requesting this book from Netgalley, I was unaware that it was a series. In fact, it was the 6th book of the Rosato & DiNunzio series. “Holy Crap, I am going to be lost” was my first thought. However, I wasn’t lost at all. Going forward, I will read the rest of the series if there are more coming (I hope there is) but I don’t know if I will go backwards really.
Mary, Judy, and Bennie are the names behind Rosato and DiNunzio law firm. Judy is the newest partner. Her and Mary are best friends. They have two other attorneys that work at the firm as well, Anne and John.
John and Anne have been working on a big case together. Suddenly, the “girls” are bombarded with a law suit against their practice that they were not expecting. They are being sued by three men claiming that they were not hired because they were male.
What is this about??? John is male???!!!
Not only that, but the attorney representing the men are the girl’s enemy, Nick Machiavelli. Nick will stop at nothing to destroy the girls and their reputation. They end up losing their only male employee, someone ends up murdered from the firm, and Machiavelli is still coming at them with a vengeance.
With Mary about to bust, this is causing a lot of stress on not only her but the baby. Perhaps it is true that nobody can understand their child more than their own mom. The girls will do whatever she has to do to prove that Machiavelli set up the entire lawsuit and to solve a murder within her own work family.
I really enjoyed the book. It was pretty easy to follow and didn’t drag out like some criminal stories do. Be sure and check it out on August 14, 2018. Here is a handy dandy link to Amazon  . 

 

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. I really enjoyed it.

Main Characters
Mary – Partner at firm, pregnant
Anne – attorney , hot
Bennie – partner, Italian
Lou – investigator, former cop
Anthony – Mary’s husband, doesn’t work
Michael Battle – plaintiff, Asian
Graham Madden – black, plaintiff
Stephen McManus – white, plaintiff
Nicky Machiavelli – plaintiff attorney, has hots for Mary
Judy – partner
John – attorney, has brother with cerebral palsy he takes care of
William – John’s brother
Roger vitez – Defendant attorney the girls hire
Rosato and DiNunzio – name of firm
Elvira – Mary’s mom in law
Isaac Chevi – Roger’s associate
Declan – Bennie’s boyfriend
Oscar – Lous old cop friend
Angue – Mary’s twin
Krakoff and Mark – detectives on John’s case
London Technologies – big case
Jim and Sanjay – clients from big case
Michael Shanahan – Williams caretaker
Alex Chen – director of marketing at London tech
Amanda – annoying reporter
Paul Patricio – intern at LF, Machiavelli’s neighbor
Flavia – Nick’s mom

Baby Teeth Book Review

I feel weird for saying this but I loved this book! Does that make me crazy????!!!  About half way through, I started wondering who was more crooked, me or the author?  I couldn’t stop reading it though!

Alex and Suzette have the perfect marriage along with a daughter, Hanna who is seven.  Hanna is a sweet little girl who is mute.  They have tried putting her in several schools hoping she will start talking but they’re never lucky.

For some reason, Hanna does not like her mom and starts plotting to get rid of her so it will just be her and daddy.  This part was creepy and I kept waiting for the book to turn towards some incest or something (then I would’ve put the book down) but it never did. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the little girl’s ideas.  Am I sick or something?  I was telling my oldest daughter about it laughing. However, because of my description she said she may try reading it (and she doesn’t read).  Who is more sick, her or I?

Seriously, the book is good and makes you wonder what you would do in that circumstance. I could see it being a Lifetime movie easily if not a theatrical movie.  I loved how Alex supported his wife through it all for the most part.  Of course he had his doubts as anyone would but their relationship was my favorite part of the book.

I only gave it three stars on Goodreads only because of the ending.  I am thinking their needs to be a sequel.  However, because of this ending, I could see it easily made into a TV series as well. I think it would also be a good Book Club book since it brings up so many topics.

How would you react if your child was trying to hurt you?

Would you keep the signs from your spouse as long as Suzette did?

I received an ARC of Baby Teeth in exchange for my honest review. Thank you netgalley.com. The release date is July 17, 2018.

 

 

 

Going to try this Blogging thing again

I haven’t posted in a couple of years. There are many reasons for this and I am sure my three followers are dying to know right???  Well, here ya go!

1. I lost my very laid back job and now work somewhere where they expect me to earn my paycheck.  Yes, I have called labor board many times.  I keep leaving Greg Abbott messages as well.  He hasn’t returned my call though.
2. I left my hubs.  He was a great man. His family………. yea they were evil and never would like me. That was fine with me. I knew what I was getting into. However the Hubs didn’t realize once you got married the wife was now number 1.  I hope he finds someone who comes from money so that his mother will approve of her.  She has to ride somebody’s coat tails so she never has to work or do anything in her life.  No negativity I promise LOL!  Yea, I pray for myself every night too, don’t worry.
3. Since I got a divorce, my kitchen isn’t as big as it use to be so I don’t cook that much anymore. Well, I do obviously because my butt has gotten huge in the past couple of years but I enjoy coming home and relaxing vs. always keeping myself busy so that my mom n law will finally approve of me.  Whew! I never realized how tired I was!
4. I met a new man!  He’s just as dorky as I am and his family loves me! He accepts me for who I am and isn’t always trying to change me.
5. I have found that I love reading!  I will be posting my reviews on here as well to bore you to death.  Is anyone reading this?   Its’ okay. I am use to talking to myself.

I am going to try and start blogging my recipes again that I make up.  I still combine three or four recipes and make them my own but never write them down or remember what I did.  My new man isn’t as experimental as I am though. I am working on that.  He won’t even eat indian food! I did sneak some by him a few weeks ago though when I was having a greek themed dinner. He loved it. He had no clue.