The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda - 3 1/2 Stars

 "Kate Nelson had it all. A flourishing company founded with her husband, John; a happy marriage; and a daughter, Ashlyn. The picture-perfect family. Until John left for another woman. Tish is half his age. Ambitious. She’s cultivated a friendship with Ashlyn. Tish believes she’s won.

She’s wrong.

Tish Nelson has it all. Youth, influence, a life of luxury, and a new husband. But the truth is, there’s a lot of baggage. Namely, his first wife—and suspicions of his infidelity. After all, that’s how she got John. Maybe it’s time for a romantic getaway, far from his vindictive ex. If Kate plans on getting John back, Tish is one step ahead of her.

She thinks.

But what happens next is something neither Kate nor Tish saw coming. As best-laid plans come undone, there’s no telling what a woman will do in the name of love—and revenge."

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Overall, this was a pretty good read. I figured out the twist about 3/4 of the way through the book, though. I was honestly expecting the ending to be a bit more shocking, but it wasn't. That part let me down. But it was a fast read. 

Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey - 3 Stars

 Inspired by a terrifying true story from the author’s hometown, a heart-pounding novel of suspense about a small Minnesota community where nothing is as quiet—or as safe—as it seems.

Cassie McDowell’s life in 1980s Minnesota seems perfectly wholesome. She lives on a farm, loves school, and has a crush on the nicest boy in class. Yes, there are her parents’ strange parties and their parade of deviant guests, but she’s grown accustomed to them.

All that changes when someone comes hunting in Lilydale.

One by one, local boys go missing. One by one, they return changed—violent, moody, and withdrawn. What happened to them becomes the stuff of shocking rumors. The accusations of who’s responsible grow just as wild, and dangerous town secrets start to surface. Then Cassie’s own sister undergoes the dark change. If she is to survive, Cassie must find her way in an adult world where every sin is justified, and only the truth is unforgivable.

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I ended up being really disappointed in this book. It was interesting enough that I was able to push through and finish it, but the ending was such a disappointment. I kept reading because I was expecting something shocking, but never got that. And to top it off, the epilogue wasn't even in the book. You have to go to the author's website to read it. And guess what? It's just as disappointing as the ending of the actual book. 

Mystery Maid by Hazel Smith - 4 Stars

 "A posh hotel, guests with secrets to hide and a mysterious dead body.

Ivy Stone is excited to begin her first day as a maid at London’s Hotel LaFontaine, but from the moment she arrives, nothing goes as planned. She insults a guest, is snubbed by the other maids, and finds a dead body, all before lunch.

With help from new friends on staff, Ivy’s amateur sleuthing uncovers clues to a thickening plot of revenge among the glamorous guests.

While preparing for a prestigious fashion show, sampling gourmet dishes and falling deeper in love with Monty the pup, Ivy suspects the killer is among them and will strike again.

In a race against time, Ivy must unmask the true culprit and save her friends before it’s too late."

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This was a quick, fun read. I like that the characters were diverse and entertaining. 

Catching Moondrops by Jennifer Erin Valent - 4 Stars

"Jessilyn Lassiter no longer has to convince people she’s not a child. Having just turned 19 in the summer of 1938, her love for Luke Talley has never been more real. And Luke is finally beginning to care for her in the way she’s always dreamed of. But their budding romance is interrupted when Tal Pritchett—a young, black doctor—comes to Calloway, stealing the heart of Jessilyn’s best friend, Gemma, and stirring up the racial prejudice that has been simmering just beneath the town’s surface. The tension starts to bubble over when Jessie’s elderly neighbor Miss Cleta becomes the first white townsperson to accept Tal’s treatment. And when a young black man is lynched, Calloway is brought to its knees once again as Jessilyn realizes that her anger can make her heart as full of hate as the klan members who have terrorized her town and her family."

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I really enjoyed the (mostly) last book in this series. It was a bit more religious than what I normally read, which was a bit off putting, but I still enjoyed it. It's been a while since I read the others, but this one also seemed a bit dramatic. 

Behind Closed Door by B.A. Paris - 4 Stars

 "Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.

But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.

Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.

Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed."

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I really enjoyed this one, but was so disappointed in the ending. It literally felt like the author went off to cook dinner and forgot to finish the book! It had been a solid 5 star rating until the ending. 

Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino - 5 Stars

 "When Marilyn Kleinman is caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation, her parents ship her off to her great-aunt Ada for the summer. If anyone can save their daughter’s reputation, it’s Philadelphia’s strict premier matchmaker. Either that or Marilyn can kiss college goodbye.

To Marilyn’s surprise, Ada’s not the humorless septuagenarian her mother described. Not with that platinum-blonde hair, Hermès scarf, and Cadillac convertible. She’s sharp, straight-talking, takes her job very seriously, and abides by her own rules…mostly. As the summer unfolds, Ada and Marilyn head for the Jersey shore, where Marilyn helps Ada scope out eligible matches—for anyone but Marilyn, that is.

Because if there’s one thing Marilyn’s learned from Ada, it’s that she doesn’t have to settle. With the school year quickly approaching and her father threatening to disinherit her, Marilyn must make her choice for her future: return to the comfortable life she knows or embrace a risky, unknown path on her own."

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I enjoyed the storyline throughout this book. When I could manage to not get distracted and actually sit down and read, it was a fast read. The chapters weren't too long, which was a bonus since the last one I read had super long chapters, which I hate.

I was a good 95% done with the book and had given it a solid 4 stars. Then I got to the last chapter and OH MY GOODNESS! So, the one twist I sort of felt throughout the book, but the bomb that was dropped at the very end was TOTALLY unexpected. The end was so emotional compared to the rest of the book. The author really left the outcome of the major twist up to your imagination, though. I was a little distraught at not knowing 100% of the truth about the ending, but that last twist is what bumped it up to a 5 star rating for me. 

The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman - 4 Stars

 "Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.

Six years after Rosemary's death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage's stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking secret: Rosemary didn't die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago, when she went missing.

Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It's always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined..."

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I really enjoyed reading about Willowbrook. Being a psych major, things/places like this fascinate me. I'm not sure what I was expecting for the duration of the book, but it went from a historical fiction to more of a suspense story. I was expecting a twist at the end, but there wasn't one. This is what deducted a star for me.