All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, June 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 384 pages

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne’s case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched.

The decade-old investigation focused on Nic, her brother Daniel, boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne’s boyfriend Jackson. Since then, only Nic has left Cooley Ridge. Daniel and his wife, Laura, are expecting a baby; Jackson works at the town bar; and Tyler is dating Annaleise Carter, Nic’s younger neighbor and the group’s alibi the night Corinne disappeared. Then, within days of Nic’s return, Annaleise goes missing.

Told backwards—Day 15 to Day 1—from the time Annaleise goes missing, Nic works to unravel the truth about her younger neighbor’s disappearance, revealing shocking truths about her friends, her family, and what really happened to Corinne that night ten years ago.

Review:

This book had me feeling one of two ways... either loving every second, or wishing it would be over (read: wanting to put it down).

My biggest issue with this book was the format in which it was written. I did not like reading the story backwards, and while I fully realize that by the end of the book, it made complete sense to read the story that way, at the time I found it confusing, annoying and kinda boring. There were many points during those two weeks (of the story) that I seriously considered marking this as a DNF because I was frustrated at not knowing what was happening... reading about the aftermath of something before I even knew what has happened, only to read about it happening in the next chapter. I can't say for sure whether the book would have read better moving forward but I can for sure say that this was not a reading style I enjoyed.

As for the characters, they were okay... not anything that will stick with me, yet also enjoyable in the story as I was reading. If I am being honest, the characters and their backstory reminded me 100% of Sweet Home Alabama... the hillbilly girl runs away from her life (and boyfriend), meets a big city guy and gets engaged, ends up back home where the hillbilly boyfriend is still in love with her... come on now... I can't be the only one who felt this way!!

Overall, while the ending totally saved this book, I don't have any major feelings either way and am finding it hard to review. I can't believe that there is a #2 in the All the Missing Girls series and can't say that I will rush to pick it up... but, it's on the TBR, for now.

The Collector by Nora Roberts

The Collector by Nora Roberts

Publisher: Putnam Adult, April 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 496 pages

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one. . . .

Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Ash longs to paint her as intensely as he hungers to touch her. But their investigation draws them into a rarified circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away, and stolen, where what you possess is who you are, and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession. . . .

Review:

I've mentioned before that I absolutely love Nora Roberts books but, for some reason, this felt so much different from what I have come to expect.

First off, there really wasn't much of a mystery to the story and, anyone who has read Nora Roberts knows that kind of her thing. Now, The Collector did start off with a bang but within a couple of chapters, you know who has committed the crime, you know what the whole reason behind it is, so it really took away the 'who done it?' that I generally crave.

Secondly, it felt like there was an excess of dialogue or "fluff" that just seemed unnecessary. Again, there was less of a mystery to this book so a lot of time was spent on the romance between Lila and Ash... even that wasn't really that interesting. There are a lot of issues that I have with the overall development of their relationship, how it started, how intense Ashton was, all sorts of things... I just found it unhealthy.

As for the characters, I didn't really like any of them... other than Luke, he seemed kinda awesome and can make fresh muffins first thing in the morning - total win! Lila was overly annoying to me in that she just seemed a little to big for her britches... come on, no one challenged a murderer with a teacup poodle or a Swiss Army knife. NOPE!!

Overall, not my favourite Nora Roberts novel and, honestly, if it was my first, I would be a little turned off.

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf

Publisher: Mira, May 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 45 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

When the body of a woman is discovered in a local park-with her bewildered four-year-old son sitting beside her-veteran social worker Ellen Moore is called in to assist in the police investigation. Positioned beneath a statue of Leto, the goddess of motherhood, the crime is weighted with meaning and, Ellen discovers, remarkably similar to one from a decade past. Ellen's professional duty is to protect the child, but she's not equipped to contend with a killer. As she races to connect the dots, she knows her time is running out. And the stakes are high: if she fails, another mother is sure to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Review:

When I found out this was a short story/prequel, I decided to download the ebook from my library and blow through it in an afternoon. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did but WOW, what a roller coaster ride of pure adventure.

Heather Gudenkauf is an author that I have picked up here and there over the years but not someone that I continually pay attention to and I have to wonder why that is. This is likely the third book of hers that I have read and can honestly say that I loved all of them. It's taking everything in me NOT to order up the book 'Little Mercies' that this book is the prequel to because I have that MUST READ MORE feeling.

Now, with short stories/prequels, I have always read the actual book they are based on before it so I am not sure how exactly Ellen (and family) and Joe are connected in the main story. Whether it is based around the original crime from 13-years ago or if the crimes of 'Little Lies' have nothing to do with it but either way, I am excited about the potential of reading more of these characters. I liked both Ellen and Joe and think there is definitely 'more to the story' of their relationship.

Overall, a very worthwhile read for those who enjoy quick, fast-faced, stories.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, November 2011

Genre: Fiction

Pages: eBook, 352 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash-fast-but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family...

ONE FALSE MOVE

Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants, to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water-wanted for murder...

Review:

I've had this book on my TBR for years... like too many years to count but knowing that the series is now 23 books deep, it seemed like such a commitment to get into. When the movie came out, I bumped it up a little higher on the list because I don't like to watch movies before I read the books but even then, it took a hot minute to get it read. Thankfully, after all that time waiting, it was a really good and enjoyable book and I am really glad to now have it marked as 'read'.

Being a fan of mysteries, I found the story line of 'One for the Money' great, in that I really wasn't sure what was happening or 'who dun it?' but it was a very easy to read/chick friendly (and no, I'm not being sexist but it's not a scary novel so I instantly think Chick Lit) type of crime novel.

The characters were well developed and I found both Stephanie Plum (the main character) and Joe Morelli to be very endearing. For a tough guy, you can definitely tell that Joe is a teddy bear when it gets right down to it. Stephanie is the type of fun-loving, accident prone, only has half-a-clue character that I instantly fall in love with so I can fully understand why this series has been such a hit and is going on after all this time.

Overall, a great read and I have already added the second book to my TBR... now to find time to read it!