Jenn\'s Bookshelves

Review: The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz
Also by this author: The Bourbon Thief, The Night Mark
Published by MIRA on February 13, 2018
Genres: Contemporary Women, Fiction, Gothic, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher

Allison's "relationship" with her lover of the past several years has abruptly ended. She finds herself struggling; never has she found herself with her future so open-ended.

As thought it was fate, she receives a letter that transports her to her past, her life thirteen years ago, living as one of seven children "rescued" by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello. The letter is from one of Dr. Capello's adoptive son's; Capello is close to death and Allison is urged to come home to say her final goodbyes.

The life Allison had with Dr. Capello and his house on the Oregon coast was a perfect one. That all ended abruptly when someone attempted to take her life. She was abruptly removed from the home and her adoptive family. Until now.

In returning, Allison is forced to come to terms with what transpired that fateful night. In doing so, she uncovers secrets that shatter the idyllic image she once had of her "perfect" family.

Oooh, was this a good one!! Since discovering Reisz’s other works (like The Bourbon Thief and The Night Mark), I have come to count on her wholly unique, incredibly captivating Gothic fiction. This level of fandom has only increased with my reading of this most recent release.

The way Reisz excels is with her slow revelation and development of her characters. Sure, we may know surface-layer details about the main characters at the onset, but it is her deliberate pacing of the details that engages the readers, making the investment in the read seem effortless, but nonetheless immensely rewarding. Additionally, our perspectives or opinions about the characters waver tremendously throughout the novel, never really settling on a definitive opinion until the last pages were turned.

The story itself is incredibly captivating, forcing one to attempt to devour this in one read. As a fan (or devourer!) of thriller and suspense, it kept my attention rapt; I couldn’t bear to separate myself from the book until I read the final pages. It has the characteristics of so many genres that this is most certainly destined to be loved by readers of all sorts, from fans of mystery to lovers of romance!

All in all, this was an incredibly-well crafted read. Highly, highly recommended!

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Review | 5 Comments

2018 Big Game’s On Read-a-athon: Postgame

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Jenn

I sincerely hope everyone who participated (officially or unofficially) in the #biggamereadathon enjoyed themselves! It’s time to report back on our success! In the comments below, or in a blog or Instagram post, share your successes. Don’t forget to mention if the predictions you made earlier in the game came true! Discuss your favorite parts of the read-a-thon, was it the food, the books, or the commercials?

While I only ended up finishing one book (City of the Lost) thanks to my family’s boisterous viewing of the game, I still found it to be a great success!

Thanks to all who participated! This just goes to show you can turn any event into a bookish event 🙂

Posted in The Big Game's On! Read-a-thon! | 3 Comments

2018 Big Game’s On Read-a-thon: Halftime

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Jenn

Half-time is here! I’t is time to reminisce on what you’ve read so far today. How has your reading gone so far? What snacks have you partaken in?

I’m about finished with my first book (City of the Lost) and I’m hoping to start a second (History of Wolves) before calling it a night!

As far as food, so far we’ve partaken in: meatballs, buffalo chicken dip, loaded fries!

While there won’t be any official posts until the wrap-up tomorrow, keep us updated on your progress in the comments below or, if you are on Twitter, use the hashtag #biggamereadathon!

Game on!

Posted in The Big Game's On! Read-a-thon! | Leave a comment

2018 The Big Game’s On Read-a-thon: The Kick-off!

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Jenn

It’s finally here, the kick-off for The Big Game’s On Read-a-thon! Although the official Superbowl kick-off isn’t for several hours yet, I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to start reading if they choose! There’s still time to sign-up if you haven’t already!

Please enter the link to your kick-off post below. Discuss the books you are planning to read, the food you are planning to snack on, etc. Since this is a completely laid back, relaxed read-a-thon, feel free to do it any way you chose! No blog, no worries! Just share your plans in the comments below, on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Just make sure you use the hashtag #biggamereadatahon so we can keep track of your posts!

I started Kelley Armstrong’s Casey Armstrong books! I started City of the Lost earlier in the week and received the third book for review, so I think this is a good opportunity to devote some time to them.

As far as food goes, we may have gone a little overboard. On our menu, we have meatballs, wings, sweet & spicy meatballs, buffalo chicken dip, and an assortment of appetizers.

Be sure to check back periodically throughout the day for fun updates & a mini-challenge! Special prizes will also awarded to participants who earn MVP status! Stay tuned for more information!

Posted in The Big Game's On! Read-a-thon! | 3 Comments

2018 The Big Game’s On Read-a-thon: Pregame

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Jenn

Before the big game begins tomorrow, I wanted to go over a few “rules”, which aren’t really rules per se but to go along with the whole football game theme I’ve got to stick to the terminology!

The read-a-thon officially runs all day tomorrow, February 4th. Sign up here!

You do not have to spend the entire day reading. Read an hour here or there, no pressure.

A kick-off post will go up tomorrow at 6 am. Again, no pressure, just do your post whenever you feel like it.

Mini-challenge posts will pop up periodically throughout the day. Feel free to participate in as many as you like, but again, these are not mandatory. There will be prizes!

A wrap-up post will go up first thing on Monday morning.

Ok, I think that covers it! Easy peasy, right? Check back tomorrow morning for the official kick-off post!

Posted in The Big Game's On! Read-a-thon! | Leave a comment

2018 Big Game’s On Read-a-thon!

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Jenn

It’s not rare for me to come up with ~~excuses~~ reasons to spend obscene amounts of time reading. With Superbowl Sunday just around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to curl up with a good book, or two. I’m not a huge fan of football, and while I love the commercials & the food, I’d rather be reading!

The details:

No rules, no guidelines, just read
No start/end times, just read at your leisure.
Mini-challenges will be created to break up your reading time. Participating in these challenges is not mandatory, but you will be eligible for a number of great prizes!

To sign up, link up below. I will create a separate kick-off link-up on Superbowl Sunday for all participants as well! No blog? Feel free to sign up directly in the comments section. If you want to participate on Twitter or Instagram, I’ll be using #biggamereadathon!

Interested in hosting a mini-challenge or donating a prize? Email me at jennsbookshelfATgmailDOTcom.

Posted in The Big Game's On! Read-a-thon! | 9 Comments

Review: The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher (egalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani
Published by Penguin on January 9, 2018
Genres: Contemporary Women, Fiction, Literary, Psychological, Thrillers
Pages: 240
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher (egalley)

Though Myriam loves being a mother, she craves the ability to work full-time again. When she and her husband begin their quest to find a nanny, they are thrilled to find Louise. Louise is a kind, devoted women who goes beyond what is requested of her. She cleans the couple's apartment and doesn't complain when Myriam's position as a lawyer requires her to work late.

Yet, when Myriam finds herself depending on Louise more and more, and Louise becomes dependent on her time with the family as well, the perfect situation begins to crumble, with horrific consequences.

I discovered this title after listening to the NPR program “Fresh Air.” Described as a book that was difficult to recommend, given the subject matter, I was instantly captivated. There’s no spoilers; you learn the premise of the book in the first few lines:

“The baby is dead. It took only a few seconds.”

What the reader doesn’t know, immediately, is the identity of the killer. Within a few chapters of reading, that is easily discerned.

It’s obvious to understand why this is a book that his hard to recommend. So why is a title so many have been drawn to? In my humble opinion, it’s Slimani’s expert reveal and build up of this incredibly tumultuous and deadly relationship. She flashes back to a more perfect time, and then even further back to Louise’s past. Though she doesn’t cut any corners in her descriptions of Louise’s actions, she uses that same level of detail to mold the characters before the readers eyes.

Many of shunned this title due to the subject matter. Going in, what can you expect, given the title? There is no perfect nanny….and if you do find one, be watchful of the dark secrets that lay below the surface. Highly, highly recommended…with warning.

Posted in Review, Thriller | 2 Comments

Review: The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor
Published by Crown/Archetype on January 9, 2018
Genres: Crime, Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover

Eddie and his friends were just barely teens in 1986. They spent their summer biking around their quiet town, desperate for excitement. To prevent bullies from knowing of their plans, they would use chalk drawings to communicate with one another. When one chalk drawing leads them to a dead body, their adolescent innocence is forever shattered.

Now, thirty years later, Eddie has attempted to put this all behind him. He believed himself to be successful, until he receives a letter in the mail, a letter including the drawing of a lone chalk man. They thought the chalk man was dead, but the existence of the letter proves this not to be the case. When his friends, too, receive the letter, Eddie realizes that one can never run from the past, and only in confronting it can he find the answers.

I wanted to adore this book. It’s being recommended for fans of Stephen King, Stranger Things and more. I think this recommendation, or that it’s an unsuccessful attempt to resemble the horror greats, is what changes my outlook on this debut novel.

In my humble opinion, if you are going to write a novel similar to IT or Stand by Me, your bar is set very high. Unfortunately, I don’t believe Tudor met these standards. This could have been a perfectly good novel had it been more unique, for when you compare something to a novel so timeless, so classic, that in not meeting those goals makes it suffer significantly.

That said, if you remove the “similarities” in the first portion of the book and instead focus on what makes this a unique read, I believe you will find yourself getting a far better experience out of this book. The conflict, and the ultimate resolution, was completely engaging and absolutely thrilling.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to take part in this tour. Please be sure to check out the other stops in the tour!

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Review, Thriller | 4 Comments

Review: The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher (egalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
Published by HarperCollins on January 2, 2018
Genres: Crime, Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 448
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher (egalley)

Anna Fox suffers from agoraphobia; she lives her life as a recluse in her New York City home. She spend her time watching old movies, day drinking, and spying on her neighbors. Her interaction with the outside world is limited; all of her food, medication, etc. come by delivery.

When a new family moves in to the house across the street, Anna has something new to keep her attention. The Russell's--mother, father & teenage son--seem like a wonderful family. Then one night, she witnesses something horrific. She's forced to rethink everything she's experienced. Was what she saw medication- (and/or wine-) induced? What is revealed, in expertly plotted layers, is absolutely shocking.

I intentionally ignored all the buzz about this book prior to reading it. Books it is compared to often fall victim to the “pre-pub buzz” fate and I didn’t want that to happen in this case!

I know it sounds quite cliche, but this is truly a thrill-ride of a read. We don’t know much, if anything, about Anna, other than what she reveals to us. We know something happened to her and her family, resulting in her agoraphobia, but the exact details are left out until well into the novel.

It takes quite a bit to surprise me; typically I can sense a big “aha” moment coming, yet in this case, I was completely unprepared. I was thrilled that this author was able to sneak them in (yes, I said them…it’s not just one) without me predicting them in advance. While one big moment, in my opinion, is definitely more weighty and impactful, that doesn’t take away from the lesser reveals.

I’m going to leave this review quite vague, for this is one of those reads that one must experience and examine on one’s own. I absolutely adored the Hitchcockian feel to the novel (and Anna’s own obsession with the films!). If you are looking for a well-plotted, intensely psychological thriller, this is the one for you. Highly, highly recommended!

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Review, Thriller | 1 Comment

My Top Books of 2017

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Jenn

2017 has been one heck of a year. I’d like to say I used reading as a reprieve but alas, that wasn’t really the case. Rather, binging Netflix was my cure! So, if these books stood out for me, that really means something! These are listed in order read!