"Now You Are Mine" by Amanda Brittany

 

"Now You Are Mine" by Amanda Brittany is an engaging psychological thriller written from multiple perspectives and in dual timelines, alternating between third and first person. This is just the kind of book I enjoy, so I happily dived in.

The book starts with a bang, featuring murders, and then jumps forward 26 years. The story follows Polly, a young woman who escaped a stalker only to walk out of the frying pan into the fire. She attends an art retreat in the Lake District to decompress from her ordeal and to learn more about her birth family who used to live there, and finds more than she can handle.

The Lakeside House has a horrid history; its previous owners supposedly took their own lives there, but no bodies were ever found. Pretty soon, Polly finds that her troubles have followed her. The new owners are receiving disturbing threats, someone is sabotaging her artwork, and the place has a creepy undercurrent. The plot takes a sinister turn when disturbing incidents keep occurring, one of the guests goes missing, and the worsening weather conditions trap them there.

I loved the book, and the plot kept me guessing right up until the end. The story moves at a good pace with plenty of twists and turns to build suspense. While I suspected one twist, the others caught me by surprise. I liked Polly, was anxious about what happened to her, and rooted for her.

Moving between past and present, what unfolds is a tale of abuse, control, environmental concerns, fallible human nature, and love. The writing is taut and suspenseful, and the author expertly builds tension and atmosphere throughout the book. The characters are well-drawn, each with their own distinct personality.

The author has crafted an engrossing mystery that keeps you interested from beginning to end. I liked the writing and the way the story unfolded before my very eyes. The author doesn't give us all the information at once. Bit by bit, she uncovers more pieces from the past and connects the dots.

To sum up, I enjoyed the book very much and found it original and intriguing. It kept me excited and interested throughout the novel. It was well-written, with good, interesting characters, a compelling premise, and suspense. If you enjoy stories with complex plots and vacations gone awry, this is the book for you.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Now You Are Mine" by Amanda Brittany

"The Suite Life" by Portia MacIntosh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a fun read! Having read a couple of Portia MacIntosh's books before, I knew I was in for a good time with "The Suite Life." This entertaining and heartwarming rom-com revolves around a bridesmaid on the lookout for a plus one.

Gigi, a hairdresser, finds herself as her sister’s chief bridesmaid at a destination wedding in a Hawaiian resort, where her ex-boyfriend happens to be the best man. To add insult to injury, he arrives with his new celebrity girlfriend, which is obnoxious to her. Desperate to avoid the pitying glances from family and friends at the upcoming wedding, Gigi dives headfirst into the dating scene, hoping to find a suitable companion. However, her attempts often end in uproarious failure, with each date turning into a hilariously disastrous escapade.

Once at the resort, Gigi is surprised to be upgraded to the deluxe suite and treated like royalty. She doesn't know why, but she certainly makes the most of it. If anyone deserves it, it's her. What follows are lively shenanigans that will put a smile on your face. The Suite Life sure suits our heroine!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Gigi is a likable and good-hearted character one can relate to. There are many laugh-out-loud lines and amusing banter, and I just loved the humor and the dad jokes. I particularly enjoyed reading about the bad dates, such as the scene with the Chef (I hate seafood as well!), and the rock show episode, to name a couple. I loved that she was easygoing, didn't hold a grudge, and was quick to forgive (maybe too quick??). However, I felt the author was too easy on the ex. I also loved the exotic setting and the descriptions of the resort and all it had to offer. Yacht? Count me in!

If I have an issue with the book, it's the overuse of the word "insist" throughout. As in her other books that I have read, the author tends to overuse this term, which was a bit irritating. I also didn't like that after finding out the reason for the upgrade, Gigi didn't come clean to the staff. It seemed like exploitation of benefits and showed bad judgment on her part. Those aside, I enjoyed the book immensely. I recommend the book to lovers of the genre and to anyone who enjoys some light romantic comedy with a happy ending. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Suite Life" by Portia MacIntosh