A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel

Publish: February 5, 2019 by Sourcebooks Fire
Genres: YA, Suspense, Mental Illness

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Description:
Four walls. One window. No way to escape. Hannah knows there's been a mistake. She didn't need to be institutionalized. What happened to her roommate at her summer program was an accident. As soon as the doctors and judge figure out that she isn't a danger to herself or others, she can go home to start her senior year. In the meantime, she is going to use her persuasive skills to get the staff on her side.

Then Lucy arrives. Lucy has her own baggage. And she may be the only person who can get Hannah to confront the dangerous games and secrets that landed her in confinement in the first place.



Review:

"Time didn't magically slow down, giving me a few extra seconds to consider what to do next. It happened fast. it wasn't graceful. It didn't look pretty."

The title and cover drew me in perfectly and since its around Halloween time I just had to read this book. I gratefully received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review.

I absolutely loved Hannah! But who wouldn't, that's her thing.. making best friends. As an only child I can relate with Hannah about growing up faster than your friends and the need/want for children your age. As an only child, its easy to come across as more mature because a majority of your conversations are with adults so its something that comes easy to you.

Sheinmel, played this story out perfectly. I was not not expecting any of the twists and turns that were thrown in. This book was impossible to put down. I loved every second of it. I have never experienced anyone close to me with this kind of mental illness or anything similar so this was a learning experience for me. Sheinmel really made me feel like I was sitting in the room with Hannah and Lucy.. I mean Hannah ;)

I was proud of Hannah and how she accepted her illness. It was sad and brought tears to my eyes when she finally started to understand what was happening. Her parents were very abnormal for parents dealing with a child who was sick but they were also kind of strange before she started her illness, who leaves a four year old in a hotel room by themselves.

This book was perfectly done and I will definitely be telling everyone about this title!

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Publish: January 8, 2019 by St. Martin's Press
Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

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Description:
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed. 

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.

Review:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Edition of this book. I received this in exchange for my honest review. 

I love the cover. I love both covers that have been chosen for Hendricks and Pekkanen. They are very intriguing and they let you know that these two women are going to be very intermingled with each other and its going to be in a twisted way. Sets you up and gets you excited for a great thriller. 

So the story starts out with Jessica, down on her luck financially. She is a make up artist and while with a client she takes a great leap and steals an opportunity from her -- the survey. This finds her mixed up and doing weird things for Dr. Shields that are a bit questionable and placing her in opportunities in front of her husband. Before Jessica catches on to what is happening and what Dr. Sheilds's objective is.... She has already slept with the Doctor's husband. Oops! 

The build up and suspense was done very well. The ending sucked! I was very disappointed. I was very excited for something dramatic and drastic to happen but there is nothing. I only made it half way through The Wife Between Us so I'm wondering if Hendricks and Pekkanen just can't close and bring about a fantastic story. They did a lot better this round in holding my attention longer. But I did find myself skimming a lot with a "alright already" attitude. 

I don't really understand the title. Hendricks and Pekkanen attempted using it with Jessica "remaining just another anonymous girl". But at no point in the story was anyone anonymous. I think a better title would be fitting. 

The POV jumped back and fourth between Jessica and Dr. Shields. When it's Jessica's POV the book is read normal and in first person. Then you get Dr. Shields perspective its "you do this" and "you do that" describing things about Jessica as she is doing them. Its makes me feel like Dr. Shields is a peeping tom but this really helps build the suspense and make you want to know more. 

Three stars because I felt like most of the story was a success. Unfortunately, they just couldn't bring it home. 

Also, be sure to check out:

The Wife Between Us


When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. 
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing. 

Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.

After the Fire by Will Hill

Amazon

Published: October 2, 2018 by Sourcebooks Fire
Genres: Fiction, YA, Contemporary

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Description:
Moonbeam lived in a cult.  She was not allowed to leave the property, nor allowed to talk to Outsiders, or to speak her mind. Father John controlled everything. He uses the Bible and twists its words to fit his own needs. Father John likes rules. Disobeying him came with terrible consequences. Then there is an outsider that comes in and stirs things up. Getting Moonbeam to see her life may not be as "true" as she has been lead to believe. She seeks courage to protect herself and the other children of the Lord's Legion. 

Review:
Thank you to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks Fire for the Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. I received this in exchange for my honest review. 

The cover I feel would be more fitting for a novel about a monstrous child starting a house fire. Or a father trailing his family and leaving the child orphaned. These are just thoughts that had popped into my mind when I first saw the cover. I love the cover, and I guess after reading the whole novel I can see how it fits with so many of the children becoming orphaned. 

I loved the story! Power, Corruption. Father John does such a grand job of twisting the minds and fears of the people whom he "loves" ignorer to get them to obey. I am so shocked at how many people would move to a place like this and absorb so many lies into believe the as their new truth. 

I loved watching Moombeam develop. She goes from nightmares and not really understanding who she can trust or how much she can trust to really trusting and counting on Doctor Hernandez and Agent Carlyle. She turned out to be a very strong character. You can tell as she subdues Father John's voice in her head telling her to keep her mouth shot and calling her a heretic. Eventually those voices are gone and to me this speaks to how strong of a woman she is turning into. 

The story bounces between a "before" and "after" theme. The after being the conversations she is having with those around her in the therapy and before being her recollections of what had happen. I enjoy stories that have this type of set up. It really shows how the character is able to overcome and grow after such a tragic event. 

I have never known anyone who has been in a cult. I can completely see how easy how these things could really get out of hand. Hill really brought the setting to life and made me feel like I was really there and able to picture easily. I will be excited to see if this is made into a movie.

So much of this book was great. Why only 4 Stars? For me, it was a slow read. I was fully enjoying everything about it and I really wanted to know more but it was a bit of a chore to read this through. I am glad I did. I will definitely be recommending this book!

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoul

Published: October 2, 2018 by Ballantine Books

Genres: Contemporary, Adult, Fiction

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I am such a HUGE fan of Jodi Picoult. I was so excited and honored when I received a free galley of her newest novel, A Spark of Light. She is very brave about the subjects she writes in. Always choosing a topic that is a sensitive subject and making a very amazing story about it. 

I first tried to read Jodi Picoult as a teenager...big mistake. I was not ready. That experience set me off of Picoult and I am really regretting that. I read Small Great Things earlier this year, I'm currently reading My Sister's Keeper. I just want to take a vacation with all of Picoult's books and do nothing else but read them ALL. I am regretting not giving her another try sooner. 

Description: 

In a women’s reproductive health services clinic a gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage. Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, gets to work. To his horror, he finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.

But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.

Review:
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the author and publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley. 

I love Jodi Picoult. I loved this book! I found her very well researched and as a christian woman who is antiabortion, I was not angry with Picoult for choosing this topic and bringing it to life the way she did. I love that there were so many characters who faced different experiences and how that shaped their perception on this topic. I felt that each argument was brought forward on both spectrums of this argument, many of which I had heard before and a few of which I had not. 

This cover is absolutely GORGEOUS! The abstractness of two woman having completely different views and their minds are just so full of different possibilities. I found the characters to be believable. I have met many woman who have been in these different situations. Some made the same decisions and some did not. 

I will absolutely be recommending this book to friends and family. 

After The Fire by Will Hill

Published: October 9th 2018 by Montlake Romance

Genres: Young Adult

First let me just point out how beautiful this cover is!!! My husband is a fireman so books that have anything to do with fire are an automatic must for me.

Description:

Before, she lived inside the fence. Before, she was never allowed to leave the property, never allowed to talk to Outsiders, never allowed to speak her mind. Because Father John controlled everything—and Father John liked rules. Disobeying Father John came with terrible consequences.

Review:

I have always had good luck with books about cults. I am excited to see where this one goes!!! So far its gaining a lot of 5 stars on Goodreads so I hope this book is as amazing at its being made out to sound. I will return with all my feels