Wednesday, December 31, 2014

My Top Reads of 2014




2014 has been a hard year emotionally and looking back, not much change from 2013.  I have got to look within and figure it out.

I initially wasn't going to do a Top Ten but when I looked, I haven't read many books and felt like I didn't complete many either BUT the ones I did, I loved or really enjoyed so of course I want to share with you.  The blogging community is all about us sharing our love of books so I don't want to forget that.


Novel Adult - never did figure out this new genre - Psychological Thriller fans that do not mind a few good detailed sex scenes. Warning - there is an incest rape scene, please proceed with caution when reading this amazing book.

My Review 



Adult Fiction - The best laugh out loud book I have read in years. Review 5 star




Thriller - completely edge of your seat, intense thriller. Review 5 star




Thriller - action packed race to the end thriller.  Review 4 1/2 




Thriller - unputdownable, great intensity thriller.  Review 5 star




Women's Fiction - Heather is a go to author for me. Emotional with a genuine embrace.  My Review 5 star




Suspense - Strong women, Charlie's Angels meets Scandal, Summary, didn't review 4 1/2 star




Women's Fiction - great friendship story, loved it.  Review 4 1/2 star




Mystery - great book to keep you reading into the night.  Review 4 1/2




Adult Fiction - Very intriguing multiple points of view perfectly done. Review 4 1/2





I wish all of you a happy, fun filled, healthy, successful 2015.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Monday - What are you reading?

Sheila over at Book Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while adding to your 2014 Wishlist.


I'm going to start a Christmas book tonight.  I loved Jason F. Wright's The Wednesday Letters so this should be fun.




I completed and it will be on my top 2014 list - My Review




I also read this for Bookclub



And this is January's bookclub choice






Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Review - Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes





Book Summary


Catherine Bailey has been enjoying the single life long enough to know a catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic and spontaneous, Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each in turn falls under his spell.

But what begins as flattering attentiveness and passionate sex turns into raging jealousy, and Catherine soon learns there is a darker side to Lee. His increasingly erratic, controlling behaviour becomes frightening, but no one believes her when she shares her fears. Increasingly isolated and driven into the darkest corner of her world, a desperate Catherine plans a meticulous escape.

Four years later, Lee is behind bars and Catherine—now Cathy—compulsively checks the locks and doors in her apartment, trusting no one. But when an attractive upstairs neighbour, Stuart, comes into her life, Cathy dares to hope that happiness and love may still be possible . . . until she receives a phone call informing her of Lee’s impending release. Soon after, Cathy thinks she catches a glimpse of the former best friend who testified against her in the trial; she begins to return home to find objects subtly rearranged in her apartment, one of Lee’s old tricks. Convinced she is back in her former lover’s sights, Cathy prepares to wrestle with the demons of her past for the last time.

My Review - 5 star

This is a chunkster read, 611 pages but what an intense thrill, I completed it in 4 days and I am a normal 1 book a week reader with most books at 400.  This was completely an edge of your seat read.

I loved the 3 year span, Chapters about 2004 with her boyfriend, being swept off her feet to the destructive controlling relationship vs 2007 now living in fear that he will find her and this time, be successful in killing her.  Both time periods were gripping and effective to moving the story along.

Cathy used to party hard with an amazing group of friends.  This all changed once Lee came into her life.  Everyone thought he was perfect, including Cathy at first.  She tried to talk to best friends about the changes but wanting their own perfect boyfriend made them become overshadowed with really understanding.  This sounds crazy but Elizabeth Haynes made it all so real and complicated.

Cathy started a new life after escaping near death. I enjoyed learning more about OCD and PTSD, which she was diagnosed for as part of her escape mechanisms.  Cathy became a new person, different personality in order to protect herself. Throughout this she met someone also which helped her confront her OCD.  The repetition of her checking doors etc for her safety may seem to much for some readers, but I thought it hit home with the intensity of it.

I thought the ending was brilliant.  At times there was some gruesome abuse scenes but so effective, none for the shock factor. Controlling manipulative people can be so charming, it is truly amazing to see the destruction many were affected by.  I loved the end, totally made you think and realise how strong Cathy really was to have survived and fought for her life and rights.

I highly recommend, the repetition for me, created the intensity of the story but may put others off.

Another bloggers review - Matt from A Guys Moleskin, the review that sold me.