The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

  This was a Kindle First Read - that means that this comes out before it is actually released and is available to kindle readers.    It is now on Kindle Unlimited for free.  You have to love that about your kindle if you have one.   There are loads of really good free books!

This is the story of Jencey - a mother of two daughters whose marriage is falling apart. She wakes up one morning, and nothing is as she thought it would be, and she ends up going back home to stay with her mother and father while she works things out.   Life in a small town never really changes - her old friends are still there,  the town creep is still creepy,  the nebby neighbors are still in everyone's business..... but some things DO change -  like how Jencey's first love is now married to her best friend.

This is an interesting story woven from different points of view about the events of one summer.   I love the quote about the local pool,  "Where strangers are family" - that is what this book begins to feel like as stories are told and secrets begin to unravel.

I really enjoyed it.  I gave it 4 stars.

Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels

Presley has everything - a business that she loves, a beautiful home, a loving husband, adorable twin boys.... until one night, all of that is shattered in an unspeakable way.

Then Presley is left with only one option, to return to the home that she swore she would never come back to and to face the boy who left her behind. 

This book was beautifully written.  The reader definitely goes through the full range of grief with Presley as she faces the enormous and unexpected ways that her life has changed.  The scenes with Presley and Wyatt and Presley and Zach are especially enjoyable.

The book did seem to meander along towards the middle though and then, finally came back to life in the last 50 pages or so.   I gave it a three.  A fair rating for a romance novel which usually aren't my cup of tea. 

Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn

Well, one good thing about having a tooth extracted and having to limit what you do, there is plenty of time for reading!   That's two off my list that were waiting to be read on my Kindle.

This is the story of Marni - a beautiful young girl, living with her Grandfather and selling flowers from their garden.  But Marni's grandfather has a secret..... he was once a king and Marni is a princess with a very mysterious and powerful father.  The creatures of the forest have always been close to Marni, but now, the threaten the kingdom as they move closer and closer onto the lands the people need to survive.   Can Marni learn the truth and save them?

This book had so much potential when it  started.   I loved parts one and two but in part three, though that aspect of the story is necessary, the plot started to drag.  There were many unanswered questions.  I suspect that this is a series, though to be honest, I haven't looked.  I would be curious to learn what happens with Marni's story.  She is a very strong female lead and I definitely enjoyed where she displayed her independence.

I gave this one 3 stars and will continue on if it is a series at some point.  On to Tell the Wolves I'm Home for book club.

Don't Try to Find Me by Holly Brown

I've had this one on my Kindle for a while, I'm trying to get through all the books just waiting there before buying new ones.   That's a feat nearly impossible for a bibliophile like me, but I'm working on it.

This is the story of Marley, her mother Rachel and her father.   They may look like the perfect family on the outside but they are hiding many, many secrets.    The main plot point in the story is that Marley runs away.  I'm not really giving anything away here, I mean, look at the title.    She is catfished -  involved in a relationship with a fake online persona.

I have to say that in today's world, this is every mother's worst nightmare.  You have an abuser find your child online, isolate them from their family and friends and lure them away to another location where God knows what can happen to them.   That's this story.

Of course there is so much more going on, like why did Marley really leave?   What is going on with her parents, especially her mother?   And there is the all important reminder that we are modeling to our children, whether we think they are watching or not, the kind of relationships that they should build in their own lives.   It's certainly a sobering thought.

This book kept me interested enough to keep reading.   I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars.

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

I loved Dune and I, initially, had no idea that it was part of a series.  Once I did know it was a series, I thought it had been carried on by Frank Herbert's children - which is true of the later books - but the first three were written by Frank Herbert, himself.

This story picks up slightly after Dune left off.  Paul Atreides is now Imperial Emperor.  He sets himself up as heir to everything that he originally hated.   He is struggling to obtain an heir.  The Bene Gesserit want him to father a child with the Harrkonen princess Irulan.   Paul wants his love, Chani, to be the mother of the future.  

There's a lot of politics and philosophy in this book.  Maud'dib experiences much self doubt and reflection.  I love the questions that Herbert raises about cloning, souls,  and the very nature of Heroes and gods.  If you enjoyed Dune, this adds to the understanding of their characters but in some ways also muddies the waters.

I gave it three stars.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

I loved in  a Dark, Dark Wood so much that I pre-ordered this title.

All I can say is,  it's difficult to believe that the books were written by the same person.   While both books rely upon an unreliable narrator, that is where the similarities end.

In this book,  Lo is a reporter for a travel magazine.   Because her boss is on maternity leave, Lo gets the opportunity that she has been waiting for - an exclusive cruise with the higher ups that she can interview and showcase on a cover story.

Just before Lo leaves for her trip, she is burglarized.  Don't ask me why this is relevant, let's just say that it sends her on an emotional and alcoholic bender from which it is difficult to recover.  Finally, she joins the crew and passengers of the Aurora Beorealis on it's maiden voyage.   Once there, she asks the woman in Cabin 10 if she can borrow her mascara.  

After a night of drinking, she hears a woman scream, a crash and a splash.   She becomes convinced that the woman next door has been thrown overboard.   She reports this to boat security, only to find out there is no woman in cabin 10.  Duh, duh. duh.......

I won't go in to the insanity that follows.  I can best describe it as this. 2/3 slugfest ( Slow...... slow.......S--------L---------O--------------------------------W)   followed by 1/3 insanity.  All three thirds were not my cup of tea.  If you liked the completely overrated The Girl on the Train then you will probably like this book too.  If you, like me, think that book was complete garbage, then you should probably avoid this book as well.  I gave it two stars and that was a gift.

I think this author is very talented but this book was just awful.

Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  I love stories about the Fae and this one really had a creative twist.  This is the story of Ivy,  a member of the Order that protects humanity from the Fae and helps to keep the doorways to the Otherworld firmly closed.   Lately though, there seems to be an increase in Fae activity in New Orleans and Ivy must get to the bottom of it. 

Enter Ren - a member of the Elite - a special branch of the Order from Colorado.  It's Ren's job to track down Ancient Fae - those who can not be killed with Iron.  He teams up with Ivy and discovers that the two of them have a rather remarkable chemistry.

Can they figure out what lies between them and save humanity?   Or are there just too many secrets they feel that they can not share?   This is a trilogy, of which currently only two books have been released.   I will read the other two books and I look forward to seeing how the conflicts will be resolved.  I have read other works by this author that I have also enjoyed.  If you enjoy books about the Fae or supernatural romance,  give this book a try.   Three stars.