#mullinmabry

As a longtime reader, I can honestly say I absolute LOVE books.  I love browsing at the bookstore or the library, I love getting emails showing the new books coming out each season, and I especially love getting a new book, opening the cover, and smelling the fresh scent of print on paper.  Although I’ve never been a huge fan of hard copies (they are usually too big/heavy for me to carry around in my purse), I certainly don’t turn them away if they’re ones I’m interested in reading.  Lately, however, I’ve been reading more and more books on my iPad (using the Kindle app) and I have to say, there are definitely some advantages.  For one, I can read into the night as late as I want and I don’t have to keep the bedside light on or mess with those little book lights (they are usually never bright enough for me and I have to adjust them to follow the page).  I can also have multiple books queued up in the app for when I’m traveling, or even if I want to bring something to read to an appointment where I might have to wait (think BMV or hairdresser).  On the other hand, when it’s late at night and I’ve stayed up waaaay too late reading, I promise you that a paperback (possibly even a hardcover) is a much softer thud on your face than the metal ipad.  I think the last time I fell asleep reading my ipad, I almost broke my glasses!  Anyway, below are the two new release paperbacks I just finished, along with a little something spooky for the fall season – enjoy!

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The Guilty Couple by C. L. Taylor

Olivia has spent the last five years in prison after being convicted of attempting to kill her husband.  During that time, the three things on her mind were how she was going to reunite with her daughter (now 12 years-old), how she would clear her name, and maybe, just maybe, a little on how to get back at her husband for framing her.  Although the man she was having an affair with before she was sent to prison has long ghosted her, Olivia still has her very close friends who have stood by her side through this whole ordeal---and now she’s going to count on them even more.  I liked this book; it moved quickly, relatable characters, and definitely some suspense.  Unfortunately, as I reflect on the book, I see there were a number of holes---places in the story that I would’ve liked a little more detail.  And even worse, I was left with some of my questions just unanswered, so that made the payoff a little…well…a little less.  It was still an interesting book and I’d likely read more by this author, but it’s going to be a middle-of-the-road type of review this time.

3 Stars

Special Note:  Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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When She Disappeared by Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry

When Margo was a senior in high school, her best friend, the very popular Jessie, went missing.  Now, some 15yrs later, Margo has returned to her hometown to help her dad after surgery and the timing couldn’t be better (or worse?), because Jessie’s body has just been found at the bottom of the swimming hole where the HS seniors have always hung out.  Now that everyone knows Jessie was killed (and didn’t just run off like many thought), the true-crime documentary series, Into Thin Air, is reviewing the case, and Margo is doing her part to help out.  But as the story progresses, secrets from Jessie’s inner circle are uncovered, and Margo realizes she wasn’t as close to Jessie as she might’ve thought.  I zipped through this book; easy to read, relatable characters, and a suspenseful pace.  I’m not sure how much I liked the ending---in retrospect, I’m liking it more----and I think it’s definitely worth the read!

4 Stars

Special Note:  Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The House On The Lake by Holly Hill Mangin

Eve wakes up, unsure of where she is or how she got there, but the more she talks to the innkeepers, the more she realizes she must be on the retreat she was planning to research before seeing if her twin sister wanted to join her for a week.  When Eve’s twin, Lyn, shows up and can’t recall how she got there either, instead of being surprised or overly concerned, Eve just assumes Lyn knows more than she’s saying so she tries not to worry too much about how she got to this very strange house, and instead focuses on the fact that she’s been given free rein to “snoop” wherever she wants on the property.  There’s a lot more to the storyline, and although it started off a little on the “spooky” side, I definitely don’t consider this to be a horror book.  A mystery?  Yes, sure.  It’s a short read (took me about 4 hours?) and even though I still don’t think everything was explained away perfectly, I don’t think this means it was an unsuccessful story.  To the contrary:  I’m glad I read it and hope it finds an audience who will appreciate some of Eve’s “interpretations.”

4 Stars