jenna_lamers's reviews
159 reviews

I was lucky enough to obtain an ARC of this engaging novel. The wealthy and the poor, the history of the south, corruption, and how stubbornness may not always be a bad thing. After the death of a homeless man and the disappearance of a homeless woman, a well known powerful yet dysfunctional family is sucked into uncovering what truly happened. As they begin this investigation they start to uncover some very interesting details about the history of the South but also the corruption that is still present in their own town. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved how everything started fitting together. I also really enjoyed the history lesson, based on true historical facts this was a very engaging read and I highly recommend it.

What would you do if you could have the love of your life and wealth beyond your imagination? Blessing or a cruse?
Tabitha soon finds out for herself. She is a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet working as a waitress at a grill.
She is working her shift when someone from her past comes back into her life, her first love Connor. She realizes very quickly that she still has feeling for him and never really got over him. The problem? He’s married to Nina, one of the most wealthy and powerful women in all of New York.
After taking part in an affair she finds herself pregnant. Tabitha can’t talk to Connor because he is so worried his wife will find out and invoke the prenup. Tabitha can no longer wait and must speak to Connor in person.
Nina is hosting a lavish fourth of July party, late into the evening the news breaks that Nina has been found dead floating in the pool. A reported suicide.
New evidences becomes known and now its looking more like murder. With wealth brings power and with power brings enemies. Who wanted Nina dead the most? This story is all kinds of domestic suspense with suspects left and right! You never know who you can trust, and what their true motives are.
I really enjoyed this read and found it to be very well written.

I was given the amazing opportunity to read this book as an e-book ARC through NetGalley thanks to Kensington Books. This cozy mystery will make you want to move to Shady Creek. This book is cozy autumn vibes with a twist. Autumn is hands down my favourite season which really drew me to this book and who knew a book could make you crave a season?? But this one does, I can’t wait for autumn and all it has to bring. The descriptions of the beautiful weather, scenery, and in season food and drink painted such a vivd picture that each scene played out like a movie.
Sadie is an owner of a literary themed pub (which is also the coolest thing ever!) in a small town in Vermont. Her mom is coming to visit to see the town she has chosen to settle down in and to also meet Sadie’s boyfriend and brewery owner Grayson. Things seem to be on the right track for her mother’s visit. That is until a food critic was found murdered in Grayson’s brewery. With the victim having a linked past to Grayson during his time as a PI and evidence pointing to Grayson, he goes into hiding. Sadie and her friends all believe him to be innocent and start on the task of clearing his name and finding the real killer. As Sadie starts her own investigation, the list of potential suspect is long. She navigates narrowing down suspects, running her pub, helping her friends, and visiting with her mother. But who killed Dominique? What was the motive behind the killing? Was it linked to Grayson’s past? A bad review she had written? Or something else entirely?
The story is so detailed and descriptive its hard to put down! With many twists and turns I just loved this cozy read. I can’t wait to go back and read the other novels that are part of this series. My only regret is not knowing about these books sooner!

Bree is a mother to a little girl. She does not have primary custody as that was the arrangement she thought best for her daughter. During one of her jogs in the park she noticed what looked to be a kidnapping, being a mother herself she reports the kidnapping right away. It doesn’t go as planned, the police don’t believe her and no one has reported a child missing. People start to question Bree and whether she made up the whole report, after all she doesn’t even have primary custody of her own daughter. People are very quick to judge. Once she realizes the police dont believe her she takes it upon herself to find the missing boy, she knows what she saw and a little boy is missing. Using some skills from her past she finds herself wrapped up in a mess of lies, and organized crime. How far is she willing to go? Will saving the little boy reveal her own dark secrets that shes tried very hard to keep hidden? What about her own family? This was a fast paced and good read! With many twists and turns, a few dead ends, and organized crime all playing into the mix you never know how the ending is going to play out. I really enjoyed this read and found it very engaging.

Sydney Green is a woman who returns to her hometown in Brooklyn- back to the home where she was raised to the woman she is today. Sydney notices that her neighbourhood seems to have changed every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting, “For Sale” signs are popping up on lawns of home owners who would never move, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. Something sinister is going on. Sydney is doing a historical tour of their neighbour for the upcoming block party, she is joined by her new neighbour Theo. As they start their research into the history of the neighbourhood they uncover some disturbing pasts that seem oddly relevant to what Sydney has noticed happening in their neighbourhood now. Gentrification is at play, and Sydney and Theo digging into the history and current deals in the neighbourhood may have put targets on their backs. Are they just being paranoid? Who’s going to believe them when everyone including the police are involved? Can they trust each other? Who can they trust? They take matters into their own hands realizing they wont have help from authorities. With many twists and turns this book is hard to put down. The history, and present day social injustices give this story a raw feel knowing that things like this happen all over the world. I highly recommend this read.

I had the honour of reading this ARC thanks to NetGalley! I could hardly put it down. Sheriff Jax Turner has been struggling with his own demons since his daughter passed from cancer and he and his wife divorced. Its pretty safe to say that Sheriff Turner has checked out, personally and professionally. He is ready to end it all when a call comes through- 14 year old Allison is missing. As the investigation starts it is learned that Allison and her mom have been fighting and she wants to go live with her dad- but this is not something he could take on. Allisons backpack is found in the car of a registered sex offender, and thats where the evidence trail begins. As more evidence comes up Jax cant help but to think of a case he had years ago- the abduction of two young girls fleeing their abusive foster family. One of the girls was saved, but the other was murdered. They never caught who did it. With Jax doing some digging he realizes the girl that lived, Elena was Allisons stepmother for some time. Jax is worried it is the same person all these year later, playing sick games with peoples lives and with the police. With so many dead ends, twists and turns you never know who you can suspect, or who’s behind it all. As the clock ticks and time starts to run out Sheriff Jax gives it his all to try and bring Allison home and not have another failure on his plate. I loved this suspenseful read and look forward to other Misty Pines Mysteries!

Katy is very close with her mother so when her mother dies Katy is left feeling like a major piece of herself is missing. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and go to person for anything. Katy and her mother had planned to go on a trip to Italy, but her mother passed before they could. Katy makes the decision to go alone. She needs to find herself, and work on healing. With the beautiful views, and tasty food Katy begins to understand why her mother loved Positano so much, she can even feel her mother spirit with her. That is until she actually finds herself face to face with her mother, except her mother is 30 years old. How is this even possible? Katy doesn’t care, she has her mother back. Positano is said to be a magical place, Katy begins to realize the reality of that as she begins to get to know her mother for the woman she was in her younger years. It turns out her mother is not exactly who Katy thought she was. As she works to reconcile her feelings of grief and anger, Katy begins to find herself. Katy may not have all the answers, but she does know what she wants. For herself and for her family. This was a beautiful descriptive book and a perfect great summer read with a great story!

I was fortunate enough to read this ARC because of NetGalley. What a page turner! Lies, secrets, interesting characters, and a missing child.
A family’s worst nightmare comes true when Sherrie’s and Richard’s daughter, Kayla doesn’t come home after a night out with friends. Her overbearing mother has been trying to protect Kayla from every evil in the world all her life, because she knows exactly what is out there. As the investigation begins its discovered that Kayla has been abducted and is not just missing but may also be in danger. Someone has their daughter. Sherrie and Richard start to wonder if their past secrets have caught up with them. If the truth ever came out their family will never be the same, how far are they willing to go to protect that? And will Kayla live to see her mother and father again?
There are many characters in this book and with many characters and their backgrounds comes many twists and turns. Who took Kayla and why did they take her?
This story is very engaging and kept me guessing! Until closer to the end of the book I really didn’t know who was trustworthy and what perspectives I could believe.
I really enjoyed this fast paced read and highly recommend it!

The FBI is tracking a serial killer who is targeting women. Dubbed Buffalo Bill, his kills are violent and sadistic. Jack Crawford calls upon FBI trainee Clarice Starling to help with the case. He believes that she will be the secret to getting help from someone else who has the mind of a killer. Clarice is tasked with talking to Dr. Hannibal Lecter who is confined to a state hospital for the criminally insane. He is of course brilliant and brings value to the investigation but at what cost for Clarice? He will give her what she needs to solve the case if she gives him what he wants. Clarice begins the game with Dr. Lecter and starts assisting with the investigation. Wanting to prove herself as an asset to the FBI she stops at nothing to get the job done.
With a sinister plot line and of course twists and turns, this is a great read!

Imagine being lost in the woods- no gear, no water, no food and something lurking in the dark. Its terrifying but it becomes a reality for Eileen, who wandered off the trail path in Ashlough forest only to end up lost, hunted and presumed to be dead. Eileen’s camera is found and contains some weird photos. The detective assigned to the case is ready to close it chalking up the photos as nothing strange, but sad instead. She believes it was just Eileen trying to use her flash as a light/ or a help signal in some of her last hours before the forest claimed her. That is until Chris, Eileen’s brother and his friends show up with a theory that something was stalking Eileen, something you can see in some photos but not others, and she used her camera flash to scare it. They believe Eileen is still alive and in need of help. The detective isn’t buying it and the friends come up with a plan of their own. If the police wont help them then they’ll go into the forest themselves in search for Eileen. As the group begins their journey off the trails and deep into the forest they begin to realize they’re not alone, they are in danger, and Eileen’s disappearance may not be an accident. This was a fantastic spooky read that will make you never veer off a trail again! Is it an animal? Or a monster? What sinister being is out there? And has Eileen been its only victim? As the story unwinds you wont be able to put the book down!