Top Ten Tuesday - Books on My Overdrive Hold List

The top 10 weekly meme used to be hosted by The Broke and the Bookish they  handed over the reins to ThatArtsyReaderGirl who can be found HERE.  Each week she will focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading.

This week's topic is books on our Summer TBR (which is a topic always bad for my wishlist).  However, I'm kind of bad at following TBRs so I'm going to share with you books which I have on hold through Overdrive - you never know when they'll come in and they love to throw a chink in your plans!  I did a similar topic in mid-March and it's fun to see what's changed.

I want to read this one because it takes place in the Appalachian hills of WV.

My Dad always threatened to move us to Alaska when I was a kid.  I love reading about it but don't think I could live there.  Heard this also has a cute dog.

I think I've been trying to read this one for months!

See above cute dog comment :)

General Hospital has always been a guilty pleasure.

Oh come on, you know you're curious.

I was such a fan when I was a pre-teen.

I've heard mixed things but I'm still curious.

I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HEDGEHOG!

Vampire hunter or serial killer - yes please!

So there you have it.  Have you read any of these?  I can't wait to see your lists this week!

A New Fave!

TITLE: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
AUTHOR: Holly Jackson
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
PUBLISHING DATE: May 2, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: 

For readers of Kara Thomas and Karen McManus, an addictive, twisty crime thriller with shades of Serial and Making a Murderer about a closed local murder case that doesn't add up, and a girl who's determined to find the real killer--but not everyone wants her meddling in the past. 

Everyone in Fairview knows the story. 

Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.

But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer? 

Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger. 

This is the story of an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect. 

MY THOUGHTS: I utterly devoured this book.  I started it on one day, hard a hard time putting it down, and then finished it by noon the following day.  I couldn't read fast enough and was truly invested in the story.  So much so that I've already ordered the sequel, which is only available in the UK right now, from Book Depository and it can't come soon enough.

Pip is working on her senior project and has decided to do right something she thinks the police in her town got wrong five years ago.  Andie Bell mysteriously went missing one night and despite a body ever being found, her boyfriend, Sal Singh was initially a suspect until a few days later when he took his own life.  The police, as well as the town, was all too happy to believe Sal killed Andie and then offed himself due to guilt.  Now his family lives quietly in a town where they are considered pariahs.  But Pip knew Sal and doesn't believe he could have killed Andie.  So she takes it upon herself to reopen the investigation and with the help of Sal's brother, Ravi, hopes to figure out what really happened to Andie and hopefully clear Sal's name in the process.

So first of all, you kind of have to suspend belief somewhat because for a high school senior, Pip takes a lot of risks.  And amazingly, she gets a lot of people to cooperate with her investigation when honestly I just don't think that would happen.  However, the story is solid and Pip is an extremely likable character.  I loved her relationship with her family - yes, parents are actually present in this YA novel, and her budding friendship with Ravi was a relationship I could get behind (no insta-love here).  It never ceases to amaze me the way the lives of teens are portrayed nowadays which makes me grateful for my somewhat boring and very mediocre high school years.

Another plus in the book is the format.  Told in narratives from both several perspectives and incorporating texts, police transcripts, maps and interviews, this book keeps the reader on edge and assures that the story rarely experiences a lull.  The ending was satisfying and I have to admit, I it had me guessing up until the conclusion.  And even once the perpetrator is actually revealed, Jackson throws one more curve at the audience.

Needless to say, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries and strong characters.  I can definitely see it making my favorites list at the end of the year.

RATING: 5 PAWS

ANIMAL ABUSE SPOILER WARNING:  The dog dies!  I knew this going into the book and admit I almost didn't read it.  However, I will say that knowing about it helped and it wasn't really a gruesome, graphic death.

What's Happening (06-14-20)...

So I'm doing things a tad bit differently this year and will be combining all of my regular weekend posts.  This will enable me to add more content on Fridays and it is just starting to make more sense.  I'll still be linking up with Stacking the Shelves at Tynga's Reviews and Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer.  Both blogs are awesome so make sure you check them out. 

Well, it's kind of been an uneventful week at The Farm and hey, I'll take it.  I've tried to stay away from the news a lot as it was really starting to effect my outlook on life.  I am still working part-time hours at home but my boss is confident we will get the all-clear to return in a few more weeks.  Oh well, the boys like having me at home.

Our state did decide to go ahead and test all staff and inmates at the prisons and jails so now I feel a little better about the environment Mr. Barb is working in on a daily basis.  We do both realize COVID-19 is still out there though and are taking all necessary precautions.

Movie and TV wise it hasn't been an extremely stellar week.  We did watch the entire Netflix series Reality Z and if you like zombie shows, then this is the one for you.  It's Brazilian and sometimes I think foreign horror films are scarier and done better.  Am I the only one?

I've been on a real thriller kick all year it seems and read a really two really good ones this week (look for me review soon).  Here's what I'm working on reading right now.

I also got several books for review and am excited for them all. Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for some great horror additions!  

The Nesting: C.J. Cooke

Yellow Jessamine: Caitlin Starling

This Is My America: Kim Johnson

After Sundown: Mark Morris

The Portal: Russell James

Voodoo Heart: John Everson

So there you have it.  I hope you all are having a great weekend and stay safe out there!

Random Things Tour - Just Friends

TITLE: Just Friends
AUTHOR: Holly McCulloch
PUBLISHER: Transworld Digital
PUBLISHING DATE: June 11, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

It’s easy to put someone in the friend zone. But what happens if you change your mind? 

Bea isn’t happy. Desperate for a change, she looks to her friends for inspiration. Every single one of them is paired off, perhaps that’s what she needs too. 

So, she starts dating again. But everywhere she goes – amid the hilarious and scarring dates – there’s Peter. Good old, oddball Peter, her closest friend from university. He’s always been firmly in the friend zone but something’s happened lately – he seems taller, more handsome and suddenly making him smile is Bea’s favourite thing. 

But how can Bea possibly risk their friendship? And how do you even go about taking someone out of the friend zone? What if Bea and Peter were only ever meant to be just friends… 

MY THOUGHTS: I really don't read a lot of romance but I do find myself gravitating toward it more during the summer and around the Christmas holidays.  And let me tell you, Just Friends was a great way to spend a warm summer afternoon.

Bea has sworn off dating but when she sees all her friends around her starting to get married or pair off, she decides to give it another try.  Bea has always had a close-knit group of friends and at the center is Peter, the nerd/oddball with whom she attended college.  Peter has always been there for her and she considers him her closest friend.  However, is Bea refusing to see what is directly in front of her?

I really had fun with Bea.  She is smart and snarky and actually showed a lot of growth during the novel.  She decides to take some chances and start a new career - something she has always dabbled with but never completely committed to.  I also enjoyed the friend dynamic in the book and it was nice to see a book where a group of college friends weren't busy trying to back stab or murder each other (maybe I've read too many thrillers lately).  My only issue was at times I wanted to smack Bea because she was having such difficulty seeing things that were so obvious.

McCulloch's writing is easy to get lost in and I can honestly describe this read as sweet and fun. Since this is her debut work, I am really looking forward to what she writes in the future as well.  If you are looking to lose yourself in a light summer romance, this is the book for you!

RATING: 5 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Holly McCulloch lives in Oxfordshire and bakes beautiful (and delicious) cakes for a living. Just Friends is her debut novel.

Random Things Tours - Safe

TITLE: Safe
AUTHOR: S.K. Barnett
PUBLISHER: Cornerstone, Random House UK
PUBLISHING DATE: June 11, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

YOUR CHILD IS MISSING.

She was only six years old when she disappeared. Posters went up, the police investigated.

But no one could find her. 

Now she’s home. 

And knocking at your door. 

You’re so happy to see her. But soon you start to wonder why she can’t answer your questions. 

Where has she been for twelve years? How did she find her way home? 

Who is she?  

MY THOUGHTS: I jokingly remember commented on my blog in early January that it looked like 2020 was going to be the year of the thrillers.  Little did I know how right I was because I've read so many good one this year and Safe is no exception.

When Jenny was six years old, she left her home to walk two houses down the street to play with a friend.  However, Jenny never made it.  For years her family searched for her but eventually, everyone gave up hope that Jenny would ever be found.  Now it's 12 years later and Jenny shows up back in town.  Her parents are thrilled and her brother seems to wish that she had stayed gone.  Jenny is trying to readjust to life while her parents, as well as the police, are trying to put together the pieces of her time away.  But it seems like everyone has secrets that they would much rather stay buried.

I loved this book.  It was compelling and exciting and held a few twists I didn't quite see coming.  I could not imagine the pain Jenny's parents experienced and I it was hard to see Jenny trying so hard to reconnect with her family.  I feel this is a book that's best gone into blindly and I have to admit, it's hard to say much more without giving anything away.  My only real issue with it is that the plot was just a tad predictable, but I think if someone reads a lot of the genre, they sort of have an idea where things are headed.  Yet I will add the author throws enough twists in to keep everything fresh and just as exciting.  If you are in the mood for a solid thriller, this is one you should consider picking up.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  S. K. Barnett is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author whose previous thriller novel Derailed was turned into a major motion picture in 2005 featuring Jennifer Anniston and Clive Owen. He lives in New York State with his family. 

Can't Wait Wednesday (275)

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

FROM GOODREADS:  From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp comes a shocking new thriller about a group of friends tied together by a game and the deadly weekend that tears them apart.

FIVE friends go to a cabin.

FOUR of them are hiding secrets.

THREE years of history bind them.

TWO are doomed from the start.

ONE person wants to end this.

NO ONE IS SAFE.

Are you ready to play?

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I've really been loving thrillers lately and this one sounds pretty good.  I like that game aspect of it and am curious to learn the details.

CASSIUS'S PICK:

FROM GOODREADS: PC Gareth Greaves first met Theo, a German Shepherd, when he was a 14-week-old puppy. Since then they have been inseparable. The best partner Gareth’s ever had, Theo has saved his handler’s life many times as well as the lives of countless others.

In six-and-a-half years of active service, police dog Theo has located, tracked and detained suspects leading to more than 200 arrests. In that time, he has endured broken ribs, been bitten by assailants and been set on fire. From tackling and detaining an arsonist trying to set a house with three children inside on fire, to protecting Gareth from a gang of men with machetes in an armed robbery, Theo’s bravery knows no bounds.

Time and time again, he has put his own life at risk to save others. This is the heartwarming story of one man and his heroic dog – a bond that sees them go above and beyond the call of duty to keep each other safe. 

WHY CASSIUS CAN'T WAIT:  Auntie Chuckles over at Chuckles Book Cave mentioned this one to us yesterday and when I checked it out, I knew it would be one Mom had to add to the collection.  All dogs are heroes and I want to learn more about Theo.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

Top Ten Tuesday - Why Did I Want to Read This?

The top 10 weekly meme used to be hosted by The Broke and the Bookish they  handed over the reins to ThatArtsyReaderGirl who can be found HERE.  Each week she will focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading.

This week I'm sharing books which are on my TBR and I don't recall why.  Sounds fun...let's go!

Added September 2019

Added January 2020 - gee, that's pretty recent and I still don't know why I added it

Added June 2019 - this does not sound like something I want to read.  Why did I add it?  HELP!

Added June 2019 - forgot about it but a better question is WHY HAVEN'T I READ THIS ALREADY????

Another June 2019 add - I'm sure it HAD to be because of the cover. 

Added June 2019 - WTH?

Added March 2019 - no words

Added January 2019 - and never looked at again.

Added October 2018 - so...is anyone shocked that I added ANOTHER weird book?

Added September 2018 - have you read this?  Did I see it on your blog?

So well, this was fun.  Let me say that I don't physically own any of these.  I have a "tbr" on Goodreads and apparently I add books and never look at them again.  That being said, I do want to go back and read some of these.  

Can you recommend any of these.  Please someone tell me they've read How to Go to Hell in 10,000 Easy Steps :)