Pages-And-Primrose

#TheRiverIsWaiting was a GoodReads giveaway I won & am ecstatic I read it. The rawness, pain…. It was such a journey.
One accident & Colby’s life falls apart. During his imprisonment he is forced to face his guilt, grief, addiction, & the hope & horrors that come with his incarceration.

#closeyoureyesandcountto10 is a thriller that grabs & doesn’t let go.
When an extreme adventurer hosts a hide & seek challenge for a 1 million dollar cash prize - single mom Adele knows it’s her ticket to supporting her kids. But there are secrets, devious plans, & more than meets the eye.

I did it!!! Book 100 for the year is #BigDumbEyes by @natebargatze. One of my favorite comedians so I knew I wanted it for the triple digit! I read it in his voice. A collection of his memories in his usually witty cutting tone. Not Pulitzer material but a great read and made me smile!

Cute story but #TheCollectorOfBurnedBooks was more fiction than historical fiction. The premise - the burning & censorship of books is familiar - but the opposition was too “fluffy” in dealing with people. The female lead didn’t pull me in. It was hard to bond with her. But a good light read.

#TheBewitching tells of 3 women in different times as they experience horrors of witchcraft & the intersection of their pain & tragedy. Minerva is researching writer Beatrice Tremblay. Similarities to stories her Nana Alba shared in 1908 Mexico. Are the horrors gone or is Minerva in their sights?

Historical fiction based on diaries of real midwife Martha Ballard follows her through winter in the late 1700’s in Maine. Her story of daily events including helping a friend was raped, delivering babies, navigating the small town, & her family. I love Martha’s strong attitude & love of her circle.

Inspired by true events, follow a group of girls in the late 60’s sent to a Catholic workhouse disguised as a school for troubled girls. Their so called sins - gay, developmentally delayed, troubled, wards, or difficult. The girls lean on each other to survive. Magnificent book!!

I find cults strangely fascinating & the depth & detail in #thepoisongarden is wonderful! It jumps from past to present & different POVs well documented to keep you in the know. The story from the different angles and times really gives you a sense of the pain and struggles. Such a great read!!!

Felt like they copy & pasted the 1st book, changed some details but left most the same. Millie-more whiney & uses her past as an excuse for her mean behavior. Brock-a lapdog that doesn’t advocate for himself. The family is basically the same as the family in the last one. Really disappointed

I had to sneak an extra break at work so I could finish it as soon as possible. Yup, that’s the review! It was so captivating and twisty that I snuck away for a bit to finish it! @jenevaroseauthor continues Sarah Morgan’s story with more depth than even #theperfectmarriage offered!

#theberrypickers makes you read faster so you can see how it ends but also you want to slow down so it doesn’t end. I chose it because it was a mystery involving Mi’kmaq from Nova Scotia - which is part of my heritage. What I found was a well written powerful book about secrets and inner demons.

Another book I was nervous about because of the hype. It was a quick listen & the plot was intriguing. There wasn’t too much character development & I am still not sure why a couple main storylines bugged me but the reader was great making the story come alive. All in all it was an interesting read.

@stephenking.bsky.social can do no wrong & #NeverFlinch is another example of this! PI Holly Gibney is back with her friends chasing a serial killer and a stalker. 2 for the price of 1 that converge in to another “Can’t put it down” novel by the master. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!!

I enjoyed The Keeper of Hidden Books more, The Librarian Spy was also a great book. Inspired by true events, it follows the stories of 2 women that use their talents to fight against the Nazis in WWII. As the war continues and their lives are torn apart, their mission and stories intertwine.

@sarahpinboroughbooks does it again with her newest gothic thriller! Emily and Freddie move to the country after an accident almost ends her life. But who is harboring a secret - him, her….. the house??? An absolute wonder that leaves you guessing until the last page!

For 12 years, Helena only knew the isolated marsh she shared with her mother & brutal father. And no idea her dad kidnapped her mom when she was 14. 16 years later, her father has escaped prison. She knows no one knows him better & can recapture him than her. Will the master find the student first?

A wonderful book that follows the lives of 5 women living in 3 different times - all connected to an amazing garden. Their stories are different but all tied together. I loved the progression of their tales and the interweaving that brings them together without knowing each other.

2nd book of the series! I really like how in-depth & detailed this one is. Probably because we got to know the characters quite a bit in book 1. Archer is good at having many possible leads & going back & forth with did they/didn’t they with new clues being learned constantly. A fun summer series!!

DNF Alert. I tried! The synopsis sounded so good! Her writing style is too wordy for me but I was willing to look past that. It was the detailed descriptions of the subject matter I had a hard time with. I recommend doing research on the subject matter before deciding if it is right for you.

Definitely my new favorite @riley.sager book!! Anna has lost her whole family due to a chain of events starting with deceit and betrayal. Now, she is taking her revenge on the 6 people responsible. But someone else has a different plan. Trapped on a train, not everything is as it seems!

I loved the concept of this story! It took me 1/2 the book to really get in to it but it has a fast pace & interesting story! Sara is adopted & has always wanted to know who her birth parents were. Until she finds her birth mother & the truth about who her father is puts her on a course of survival.

25 years ago, Edward & Isabel’s house is invaded by a serial rapist and killer. They each have a different way of dealing with the past & their future. Now at the trial - all the emotions & their past are revisited. Definitely one that makes you dig deep in the emotion and answer what you would do.

Whether you like her comedy or not - @chelseahandler’s 6th book is a must read! Focusing on who she knew she wanted to be as a child, it is filled with prose & insights in to being who you wanted to become & how to be true to yourself. It really makes you see her & yourself in a new & better light.

A heartbreaking & hopeful true story… Misty navigates the perils and trauma caused by the people who are supposed to love and protect them most - family and community. Between religion/family obligations and a life of happiness, Misty shares the pain, horror, confusion, redemption, and triumph.

With this as her debut novel - Rachel Ryan is already a literary master!! A wonderful thriller that reads easily and has layers you never see coming! The story unfolds flawlessly and you never see the twists coming! A perfect way to spend a weekend. Loved the character development and story concept.

When people ask what book fills & tears apart your heart, Taylor Jenkins Reid is on the list with #atmosphere. Joan is following her dreams of becoming an astronaut in the 80’s & discovering love & life along the way. Beautifully written & elegantly researched.

My binge of historical fiction brought me to the story of Zofia in 30’s & 40’s Poland. Her love of books is only matched by her love for her Jewish friend Janina. The city is overrun by Hitler, Zofia takes up to try & save them both. Breathtakingly beautiful story - a must read!

#DarkRoads grabs you & transports you to a place where girls disappear & are murdered along the highway. Will Hailey become 1 of them? After losing her dad & going to live with her aunt & the Iceman - something is going on but can she figure it out before it’s her turn? @chevystevens.bsky.social

As far as historical fiction goes - A+. Based on some true events, it follows 3 women from the 1930’s thru the 50’s as they navigate life & struggles in different parts of the world before, during, & after WWII. It pulls apart your soul and gives you a look in to how each woman handles the world.

When a book is really good but you still need to eat… #bookstagram #booknerd #tableforone #readersgonnaread #bookreview #loveyourlibrary #readwhereyoucan #pagesandprimrose