{I've Been Reading} Some Like it Fudgy

 Some Like it Fudgy by Nancy CoCo

What's drawn me back to this series over and over has been the setting. I love all of the little details about life on Mackinac Island. There was noticably less of that this time around, maybe because the plot left little room for it. (The yummy sounding recipes are still there between the chapters, though!)  As soon as Allie discovers this book's murder victim, her new husband's ex-wife, the plot gets moving and doesn't slow down.  I didn't care for the dynamic between Allie and Rex in this one. Even after she's cleared as a suspect, a new member of the police department is actively keeping her from investigating. It's interesting to see how she maneuvers around his efforts, but she spends most of the book angry. 

In Her Own Backyard by Ashley Hanna-Morgan

This is the most exhausting domestic thriller I've ever read. The events of the book span a year, starting with the birth of Marlowe's second daughter. She struggles with post partum depression, and with breastfeeding, and with balancing the needs of her two children. What makes this one stand out is that she has a supportive husband and network of friends and no one is belittling her or dismissing her concerns. A young woman went missing without her landlords or family noticing that anything was wrong until Marlowe and her friends, who all enjoy true crime podcasts, decide to look into it, but that part of the plot is completely overshadowed by Marlowe's struggles. The author went out on a limb and did something really different, but it didn't work for me. There's just so much time spent on Marlowe's emotions and her three-year-old's emotions and breastfeeding and as a reader I didn't have the patience for this fictional character's struggles. I can see where it could provide great discussion for a book club. 

The Personal Trainer by Rebecca Collomosse

Juliet wants to look great on her wedding day, so she hires a personal trainer. At first, she's thrilled with the results. Claudia is exactly what she needed...until she starts overstepping boundaries and becoming more and more pushy. What sets this one apart and makes the book work so well is how much control Juliet's personal trainer has over her life. Far more than a new friend, or housekeeper, or any of the other new "friends" I've encountered in similar thrillers. 

The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly

In the eighth House-Flipper mystery, Whitney and her cousin are doing things differently. The historic barn they're converting into apartments isn't for sale. The property has been in the same family since the stone foundation was laid. It might have been part of the Underground Railroad. The two are enthusiastic enough about the place's history to break their rule of only working on their own properties and take on a client, but before they can even get started, a local reporter is murdered and Whitney is investigating. The pace of this one felt different from the previous books in the series, with the job making up less of the plot. There was also a lot of lecturing in the pages. One character keeps an actual soap box on hand to climb up onto when she has an opportunity to educate potential customers. 

In and Dark and Lovely Wood by NC James 

I'm not sure if there's a term for these thrillers that feel like old fashioned slasher movies, but I'm loving them! A group of friends have gathered to celebrate before a summer camp themed wedding. The whole setup is glamping at it's finest, but there's no phone reception this deep in the woods and they were all dropped off by a party bus. There's no way to leave or call for help. And did I mention that there's an escaped serial killer in the area? This one is fun and fast paced, with a great setting. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. 

{I've Been Reading} Morsel

Morsel by Carter Keane 

This is a wild ride of a horror novel.  Along with her dog, Lou sets off to do an appraisal on a remote property. Take some pictures, write a report, and get a desperately needed paycheck. It should be straightforward, but there's something in the woods and her truck won't start. Fast paced and brutal, this book really pulls you into Lou's head and lets you know what she's feeling. You'll definitely worry about the dog. 

You Did Nothing Wrong by CG Drews

It opens with a mother and child playing together in a quiet nursery filled with vintage toys, but that perfect bit of domestic tranquility is brief. Elodie has carved out little bubbles of peace in the house her new husband is rennovating. The rest of the old mansion is filled with dangers -- open holes in the walls, mold, lead, splintered wood, power tools... Bren would never hurt her son, she knows that, but the house is still unsafe. She's watchful and cautious, but her careful facade is slipping bit by bit even before she starts hearing things in the house. This book is dark and heart wrenching and a brutal ride. If you're a reader who relies on trigger warnings, I strongly suggest you look them up before getting yourself into this one.  

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. 

{I've Been Reading} What We Did to Survive

 What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally 

The title and cover art of this one grabbed me and the plot delivered everything that the exterior of the book promised. On the last day of their vacation in Mexico, best friends Hannah and Emma join Emma's new fling on a chartered sailboat with Emma's older brother along to keep an eye on them. They're looking forward to a few last hours in the sun and will be back at the resort packing their bags long beforfe the predicted storms hit the area. The first few chapters effectively set the scene and, once things start to go wrong, the plot moves quickly. One plot element jumped out to me as glaringly predictable...or maybe there was supposed to be a sense of dread knowing what was coming. I can't quite decide. 

The Agony of Her by Cassandra L. Thompson

Haunted houses and folk horror are a great combination. This one has parallel plots set in 1910 and 1981. It's not the nostalgic, neon soaked 80s that so many books are exploring lately, it's the isolated from your neighbors by lack of a cell phone version. Lori Greene has inherited Haite Hill, a dilapidated gothic mansion that sits above a former mill town. Having her two stepdaughters with her while she plans the renovations is less than ideal, but her ex-husband dropped them off with no notice and she's making the best of things. In the earlier timeline, Ada Haite is banished to the house with her own stepdaughters. The book is creepy and atmospheric and held my interest as both women dealt with the same evil in different timelines. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. 

{I've Been Reading} A Place to Die For

 A Place to Die For by A. M. Strong and Sonya Sargent

Jordan and Sam had the rug pulled out from under them just as they expected to sign the papers and buy their own home. Then, seemily out of nowhere, they're invited to buy a condo at an exclusive luxury building. The other residents are welcoming and their unit comes already filled with luxurious furniture that they'd never have the budget for. Never mind that dark stain under the carpet in the foyer, which must be paint. Those distressing sounds she hears echo through the hallways must be Jordan's imagination. As readers, we all know it's too good to be true, but Jordan and Sam are oblivious. I was fine with the slow burn, but problems keep repeating themselves a few too many times without the characters starting to question whether something else is really going on.  I loved the setup, but quickly lost patience with the characters and found the eventual reveal to be disappointing. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies.