contemporary - No Apology Book Reviews

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

November 16, 2019September 6, 2017

Title: The Broken Girls Author: Simone St. James Series: n/a A spooky, intelligent, character-driven thriller I would like to thank Simone St. James, Berkley/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Idlewild Hall is a girls’ boarding school where the illegitimate, the mentally ill, and the troublemakers are swept under the rug. In 1950, four girls band together to survive the cold, dreadful place—and the ghost that uses their darkest …

Interview with Cynthia Eden (Before the Dawn)

October 10, 2018September 3, 2017

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Before the Dawn by Cynthia Eden is the second book of the “Killer Instinct” series; a psychological thriller intermingled with some romance. The premise of these novels is very unique in that they involve someone in law enforcement knowing a serial killer. An experimental FBI unit recruits Agents who have a personal connection to serial killers, knowing the murderers because they were friends, lovers, family, and their tormenters. The intensity begins from page one, …

Elise’s Review – Wired by Julie Garwood

October 10, 2018September 3, 2017

Book Review by Elise Cooper Wired by Julie Garwood has the relationship dominant to the story. This novel has much more romance than suspense along with humorous scenes, a welcome relief from the tension of thrillers. The book features a computer nerd, Allison Trent who gives geeks a good name. She is beautiful, painfully shy, models on the side, and is not a phony; yet, relaxes by writing computer codes and working out puzzles. Determined to make a name for …

Interview with Sandra Brown (Seeing Red)

October 10, 2018September 3, 2017

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Seeing Red by Sandra Brown is an intriguing story about redemption and second chances intertwined within a “who done it” mystery. The complexity of the plot originates with the lies and deceit. Twenty-five years ago a bombing at the Dallas Hotel, the Pegasus, leaves 98 dead and 197 wounded. An iconic photo was taken of Major Franklin Trapper rescuing a little five-year-old girl from the building’s ruins. Although he was never the reluctant hero …

The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream by Christina Dodd

December 8, 2019August 16, 2017

Title: The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream Author: Christina Dodd Series: Virtue Falls #4 Two well-written stories that don’t belong together I would like to thank Christina Dodd, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. From the very start of The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream, I was hooked, and I could not bear to stop reading for any reason, because I had to know what happened next. I had to …

Indigo Lake by Jodi Thomas

August 23, 2019July 19, 2017

Title: Indigo Lake Author: Jodi Thomas Series: Ransom Canyon #6 Not entirely bad but hardly satisfying To my astonishment, the leftover sense of disappointment I had from the last installment in the Ransom Canyon series, Wild Horse Springs, tempted me to not only skip reviewing this one, but to skip reading it at all. But my curiosity, a small sense of duty, and years of loving Thomas’ work combined into a force I couldn’t deny, so I read it. My …

Seeing Red by Sandra Brown

November 7, 2019July 18, 2017

Title: Seeing Red Author: Sandra Brown Series: n/a Not super exciting but still brilliant I would like to thank Sandra Brown, Grand Central Publishing/Hachette, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Twenty-five years ago, the nation was rocked by the tragic bombing of a prominent Dallas hotel. The culprit confessed and the case was quickly closed, but for John Trapper, the repercussions had only begun. As one of the few survivors of …

The Dream Keeper’s Daughter by Emily Colin

October 10, 2018July 15, 2017

Title: The Dream Keeper’s Daughter Author: Emily Colin Series: n/a A frustrating mess with an identity crisis and unresolved plotlines I would like to thank Emily Colin, Ballantine Books/Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All that follows is only my opinion and how I personally perceived the book. *takes deep breath* I gave myself a day to calm down, because the first time I started to write this review, …

Wired by Julie Garwood

October 10, 2018July 6, 2017

Title: Wired Author: Julie Garwood Series: Buchanan/FBI #13 Not the best Garwood I’ve read, but not a terrible book This book doesn’t seem to have been received very well. While the majority of its ratings are four- and five-stars—the percentages on Amazon and Goodreads are almost identical right now—the reviews are mixed. My personal opinion is that this is a good book, not a great one—but I have certainly read far, FAR worse. It’s been a few years since Garwood …

Dangerous Minds by Janet Evanovich

November 10, 2019June 21, 2017

Title: Dangerous Minds Author: Janet Evanovich Series: Knight and Moon #2 A fun, humorous romp When Emerson Knight’s friend Wayan Bagus, a buddhist monk, discovers the island where he had been living as a hermit has gone missing, Knight and his impromptu, unofficial team of investigators go on an adventure to find out what could possibly have happened to make an entire island disappear. Their questions lead to a larger mystery that has been guarded by the National Park Service …