The Inmate by Freida McFadden - 4 Stars

 "There are three rules Brooke Sullivan must follow as a new nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum-security prison:

1) Treat all prisoners with respect.

2) Never reveal any personal information.

3) Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates.

But none of the staff at the prison knows Brooke has already broken the rules. Nobody knows about her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, one of the penitentiary’s most notorious and dangerous inmates.

And they certainly don’t know that Shane was Brooke’s high school sweetheart—the star quarterback who is now spending the rest of his life in prison for a series of grisly murders. Or that Brooke's testimony was what put him there.

But Shane knows. And he will never forget."

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So I've seen a lot of people reading this author's books, so I thought I'd give one a try. 

The book pulled me in from the beginning and was a really quick read. Not too far in I started trying to guess the outcome. My mind was all over the place. For a bit I was like, maybe it's this, then for a bit, maybe it's that. I actually did not guess the plot twist, which was good. With this type of book, you can pretty much expect a plot twist at the end. What really got me was the really unexpected twist in the epilogue. Sometimes I don't read these because they really don't add a lot to the story, but something told me to read this one and I'm glad I did. It was a short epilogue, but added a bit more whoa to the story. I'll probably give another one of hers a try. 

The Life She Wanted by Anita Abriel - 3 Stars

 "New York in the 1920s—a time when fortunes are made and a woman’s dreams are challenged against all odds in a sweeping historical novel by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War.

1926, Hyde Park, New York. Born to modest means but befriended by the wealthy, aspiring dress designer Pandora Carmichael has been surrounded by privilege yet never at home in it. That hasn’t stopped her from dreaming—of a romance in a rarified world that could also give her the status and resources to start a business of her own. When she’s introduced to a charismatic Princeton student, Pandora’s future begins to fall into place.

Marriage provides Pandora with a devoted husband, comfortable love, and the prominence and affluence to open a boutique. It’s a fantasy realized, until scandal and tragedy upend Pandora’s life and she flees Hyde Park with a heart-wrenching secret. As the Depression looms, Pandora must rethink everything she’s ever wanted.

From sprawling Gilded Age mansions in New York to the seedy underbelly of Greenwich Village and the stunning ocean vistas of the French Riviera, Pandora’s escape is a journey of self-discovery, adventure, true love, and ambition. There are new dreams to be had, and Pandora is betting on herself to make them come true."

This one started out pretty good. I was curious to see how it was going to play out. There was one minor twist in the middle of the book, but I figured that out before it happened. The rest of the book just flopped for me. I was hoping for some big shocker, but it never happened. 

Excuse Me While I Disappear: Tales of Midlife Mayhem by Laurie Notaro - 5 Stars

 In the latest book from Laurie Notaro, she gives a hilarious insight to being a middle aged woman. Each chapter is a different topic and I swear I could relate to almost all of them. This book had me laughing so much! I've loved most of her other books as well, but this one was just so relatable since I'm almost 48. If you love to laugh, I highly recommend this one. 

Sweet Water by Cara Reinard - 4 Stars

"What did her son do in the woods last night? Does a mother really want to know? It’s what Sarah Ellsworth dreamed of. Marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Martin. Living in a historic mansion in Pennsylvania’s most exclusive borough. And Finn, a teenage son with so much promise. Until…A call for help in the middle of the night leads Sarah and Martin to the woods, where they find Finn, injured, dazed, and weeping near his girlfriend’s dead body. Convinced he’s innocent, Sarah and Martin agree to protect their son at any cost and not report the crime. But there are things Sarah finds hard to a cover-up by Martin’s family that’s so unnervingly cold-blooded. Finn’s lies to the authorities are too comfortable, too proficient, not to arouse her suspicions. Even the secrets of the old house she lives in seem to be connected to the incident. As each troubling event unfolds, Sarah must decide how far she’ll go to save her perfect life."

I enjoyed the storyline of this book and most of it kept me guessing. It did take a bit to pick up, but at least it wasn't so slow in the beginning to where I didn't want to finish it. The last half was pretty intense, though. I was slightly disappointed in the ending, though. But overall it was a good read. The author really doesn't seem to have anything else that interests me, though. 

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose - 4 Stars

 "Meet the women of Buckhead—a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.

Shannon was once the queen bee of Buckhead. But she’s been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman, Shannon sets out to take revenge …

Crystal has stepped into Shannon’s old shoes. A young, innocent Texan girl, she simply has no idea what she’s up against …

Olivia has waited years to take Shannon’s crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. Finally, her moment has come. But to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhand trick in the book …

Jenny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her clients’ secrets and darkest desires. But will she ever tell?

Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead—and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly."

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For the most part, I enjoyed this book. The story is told from the different view points of the female characters and were actually easy to keep straight as to who was who. I had fun reading the cattiness of the women and laughing at some of their ridiculous behavior. The ending felt really rushed, though. But over all it was a good book.

The Reunion by Kiersten Modglin - 4 Stars

 "Hotel Lilith holds terrible memories for Cait Du Bois.

The darkest night of her life happened within its walls.

Once, she vowed never to return to the place that reminds her of the horror she experienced. But when the hotel is chosen as the location for her high school reunion, Cait finds herself unable to resist the appeal of showing off her new life to the people who once made her existence miserable.

Cait is no stranger to being noticed in public, especially as a bestselling author with an enthusiastic fan base, but back at Hotel Lilith, she was once recognized for a completely different reason. With all eyes on her as she returns to the town she’s spent years running from, Cait finds it increasingly difficult to discern between her fans and foes.

Haunted by the memory of a night that torments her, she resolves to put the past behind her and move on.

No one knows the truth about what happened back then.

At least, that’s what she’s always believed.

Shortly after her arrival, strange things begin to occur. A mysterious package, strange calls, and frightening text messages seem to be just the beginning of the nightmare about to unfold.

Someone is determined to bring the truth to light. If they succeed, the life Cait has built based on secrets could come crashing down around her. And, if they want her to pay for what she’s done, her lies may be the least of her concerns.

Someone’s out for blood."

This was a pretty good read. It had a decent twist at the end. It was the type of book that you expect a twist anyways, but I actually didn't have any clue what the twist was going to be. I was thinking one thing and it was another, which was a nice surprise. 

The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon - 4 Stars

 "Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate New York town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing for her life. 

When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.

Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life—and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back."

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I really enjoyed this one. It was a really fast paced read and kept me hanging on to almost every word. It was a different perspective of a serial killer. The last 15% had me speed reading through to see what was going to happen. If you like thrillers, this is a must read.