Mini Reviews: Mystery/Thriller Edition
book reviews

Mini Reviews: Mystery/Thriller Edition

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

As a book blogger, my eternal struggle is not only trying to read ALL THE BOOKS, but keeping up with my reviews once I have read them. Before I started this blog, I thought the reviews would be the simple part. After all, I was already posting reviews on Goodreads. How different could it be?

Hahaha, oh past-me… I never realized how much more thought goes into a review I’m planning on putting on my little blog as opposed to Goodreads! How in-depth do I wanna go? Do I want to put all my reviews here or just the good ones? Does everything I read get a full review? And, if not, how do I decide what gets a full review and what doesn’t?

Clearly, I have enough thoughts there to fill up an entirely different post, lol. All this to say, I have fallen behind on reviews recently because I was stressing myself trying to write full, in-depth reviews for each and every book I read. And, to be honest, it was doing me in. Sometimes, even if I enjoy a book, I just don’t have that much to say. Thus, we’re bringing back the mini-review! Not only will it help me catch up on books to review (because, to be clear, I do want to review every book I’ve read on Goodreads, even if it’s a short one) but I think it will help with my blogging-related stress levels 😅😂

That being said, and with us heading deeper into October, I thought this mini-review edition was perfect! I’ll be talking about three mystery/thrillers I read recently which you might also enjoy during these spooky times. Let’s jump in!

Title: Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Source: Bought

CW/TW: For a full list of content and trigger warnings, please check out BookTriggerWarnings.com

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Bookshop::Indiebound::TBD::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

Ahh, Gone Girl. I wasn’t sure how well I would enjoy reading a mystery/thriller where I already knew the major plot twist. Would I find it bland as I already knew what was going on? Would I find it predictable through no fault of its own? I’m happy to report that, even knowing (one of) the twist(s), this book still managed to shock me and keep me on the edge of my seat!

Mostly through hatred.

Because I hated EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK! Nick is terrible. Amy is a sociopath. The detectives made me want to punch several things. Just… not a single character in this book was likeable. And that made the story even more fascinating! I just had to know what terrible thing these terrible people were going to do to each other next.

I can see why this book is as popular as it is. With the breakneck twists and the compelling (if horrible) characters, this one was hard to put down! I’m glad I finally gave it a chance and read it.

Title: One of Us Is Lying

Author/Narrator: Karen M. McManus

Source: Bought

CW/TW: For a full list of content and trigger warnings, please check out BookTriggerWarnings.com

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Bookshop::Indiebound::TBD::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

I’ve owned this book for a hot minute and, yet, it’s the second Karen M. McManus book I’ve read. I read Two Can Keep a Secret awhile ago and found myself really enjoying it! It kept me guessing until the end and I do love when a thriller can surprise me. So, after getting on so well with her sophomore novel, I decided to finally give her debut a try.

Though I did manage to ferret out the twist in One of Us Is Lying, this was still a fast-paced and thrilling ride! The story was interesting and I enjoyed the Breakfast-Club-but-with-murder vibes to the whole thing. The characters were interesting to read about and had a lot of depth, which I appreciate in a mystery/thriller. And, even though I guessed whodunit, the reveal was still masterfully done!

This book was an intense, quick read that I’m glad I finally got around to picking up. I can’t wait to not only read the sequel, One of Us Is Next, but McManus’ newest book, The Cousins. I think Karen M. McManus is quickly becoming a favorite, ngl.

Title: Mexican Gothic

Author/Narrator: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Source: Bought (BotM)

CW/TW: For a full list of content and trigger warnings, please check out BookTriggerWarnings.com

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Bookshop::Indiebound::TBD::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

Imma be perfectly honest right now and say that I picked this book up mostly because of it’s gorgeous cover. I mean… look at it! I’ll also say that the only other book I’ve read by this author, Gods of Jade and Shadow, was solidly in the “okay” category for me. So I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect as I started this one.

(I’m also kiiiind of cheating with this one as it’s more so “horror” as opposed to a “mystery/thriller” but… 🤷🏾‍♀️)

Thankfully, Mexican Gothic was just the right mix of weird, creepy, gothic horror for me! When I tell you there were multiple times when I physically shuddered… This book will get under your skin in the best of ways! Well… if you like to be scared, that is 👻 Also, this book validated my absolute hatred of mushrooms. Seriously, though… check the trigger and content warnings for this one because there are some scenes that made me a little nauseous and I have a pretty strong stomach for horror.

I thought the pacing of this one was impeccable. I enjoyed our main character, Naomi, and the fact that she wasn’t some tough-as-nails badass but she still did what she needed to do to help her cousin. The other characters felt a little flat to me, but they still played their parts wonderfully. And the setting was just perfectly gothic! I loved the atmosphere of this book, even when it was making me shudder. All in all, this was a great book and it would definitely be a perfect read for this time of year!

And there we have it: three creepy books I’ve read recently finally reviewed! Are you planning on reading any of these during spooky season? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

Stuck At Home Book Tag
book tag

Stuck At Home Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

Hello, reader!

It has been awhile since I’ve done a book tag, hasn’t it? And so many wonderful people have been tagging me lately, too! I promise I will catch up soon 😅 With that in mind, today I’ll be doing the Stuck At Home book tag, even though we’re no longer in the thick of lockdown. Not to say some places shouldn’t be, but things are definitely not as strict as they were back in March!

Before I get into the tag, I want to thank the ever-awesome Danni @ _forBooksSake for tagging me! Y’all should most definitely go check her out 😊

Alright, let’s jump in!

The Rules:

  • Thank the person who tagged you (Thanks again, Danni!)
  • Answer the questions down below
  • Pingback to the creator: Ellyn @Allonsythornaxx.
  • Nominate 5+ bloggers you’d like to know more about, to do this tag

What are you currently reading?

A kajillion different books, but the one I’m enjoying the most right now is The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang. I read The Poppy War recently and adored it! I mean, it hurt my soul in a lot of ways, but I still loved it. It’s dark, Rin is kind of terrible, and the outlook is bleak, but I couldn’t get enough of it! So now I’m subjecting myself to the sequel, fully prepared to be hurt again.

Continue reading “Stuck At Home Book Tag” →
WWW Wednesday: October 7, 2020
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: October 7, 2020

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

  • The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang: I recently participated in a buddy read for The Poppy War, the first book in this series, and I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! So I immediately got my hands on a copy of The Dragon Republic. I’m not terribly far into it, but, so far, it’s just as good as the first book. I finally understand why this series is so popular!
  • Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee: There’s a very dragon-y theme going on here 😂 I picked up this middle grade book because it’s the October pick for Middle Grade Marvels! We’re having our first group discussion this weekend, so I want to make sure I’m caught up. So far, I’m really enjoying this!

Recently Finished

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Rating: 4 out of 5.
  • The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang: UUUUUGH, THIS BOOK! It was not an easy book to read in various parts but damn was it good! My heart was destroyed multiple times and how did I react to that? By immediately picking up the next book in the series so I could have it destroyed all over again, lol. I’ll have a full review coming soon!
  • Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger: This was the September pick for Middle Grade Marvels and I ended up enjoying it! Did I finish it when I was supposed to? NOPE. I have to admit that the first part kind of dragged for me and I fell behind with the reading schedule 😅 Then I had so many books to read for tours that it kind of got stuck on the backburner. The second half of this book, though, definitely captured my interest! It was fun and fast-paced and it made me interested in continuing the series.

What’s Next

  • The Company of Demons by Michael Jordan: In an attempt to catch up on my physical ARCs, I’ll be be picking this one up that I received… an embarrassingly long time ago 😬 It’s a mystery that sounds like it will be dark and twisty, so it’s perfect for this time of year. And I really enjoyed the first few chapters I read when it was on BookishFirst, so I’m hoping I’ll like it!
  • Sentience by Courtney P. Hunter: This is another physical ARC, but I received this one much more recently! It’s a sci-fi novel that sounds like it’s going to mess with my mind in the best of ways. There’s a dangerous competition, there are AI who have no idea they are AI, and it seems like it’s going to be incredible! I’m looking forward to reading this one very soon!

Thus wraps up another WWW Wednesday! What have you read recently? What are some books up next on your TBR? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

September 2020 Wrap Up
wrap up

September 2020 Wrap Up

kerrimcbooknerd8 Comments

Hello, reader!

We’ve entered into a new month (Hello, October!) which means it’s time to say goodbye to the last one. September is my birth month, my favorite month of the year, but uuuuugh did it feel hectic this year! I think part of that is the fact that the kiddos started back at school which caused a major adjustment in all our routines. There was also the fact that I signed up for what seemed like ALL THE BLOG TOURS! I have no sense of balance, y’all…

Either way, I still had a rather good reading month, so let’s talk about it!

Books Read

Click on the covers to be taken to the book’s Goodreads page

  1. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn::★★★★★::My review
  2. Vampires Never Get Old edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker::★★★★::My review
  3. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes::★★★★::My review
  4. Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pickney and Brian Pickney::★★★★★::My review
  5. Frozen Rage by Steve McHugh::★★★★::My review
Continue reading “September 2020 Wrap Up” →
book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Oct 2 – 8

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The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Crazy-For-Books and is currently being hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Every Friday, a new question is posted for book bloggers to answer in the coming week. The purpose of the hop is connection and community. You can discover new blogs to follow, new books to read, and you may end up with some new followers, as well!

This Week’s Question

 Do you read books that have an autumn theme? 

This week’s prompt submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

Simple answer: of course I do! I love books that are set in fall! Fall is my (don’t grab the pitchforks…) second favorite season. There’s just something so cozy about fall, with the dropping temperatures and the bonfires and the sweaters. And I do love a book that has a cozy feel. I, of course, also love the spooky factor that comes with fall and Halloween. I’m a huge fan of scary stories, so give me all of that, please and thank you!

Now, do I go out of my way to pick up books with an autumn theme? Well… yes and no? I do love thrillers and mysteries and those tend to have a more autumnal feel to them. But I don’t think I’ve ever specifically picked up a book because it had an autumn theme. It’s just a nice surprise when I stumble across it 😊

Blog Tour: Frozen Rage by Steve McHugh
blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: Frozen Rage by Steve McHugh

kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

Hello, reader!

Look who’s back with another blog tour post! This time, I’m participating in a tour run by Storytellers on Tour, a company that focuses on indie published fantasy and science fiction novels. I always know I’m going to be exposed to something fun and interesting when I sign up for one of their tours! And this is definitely the case with the fantasy novella I’ll be talking about today.

First, I want to thank SOT and the author for sending me a copy of this book so that I could participate in this tour! The cover is just stunning 😍 And I also want to encourage you to check out the other amazing content creators that are participating. Click the banner below to find links:

Alright, now let’s talk about the book!

Synopsis

“The Realm of Dreich is a getaway for the rich and powerful, a medieval-inspired town in the middle of a vast frozen wilderness. Now it’s the site of a wedding, intended to join two feuding families who have spent centuries in an uneasy truce with each other.

When Tommy Carpenter asks his best friend, Nate Garrett, to help him with the security of the wedding, Nate reluctantly agrees, knowing that it will be a long weekend of work and, in all probability, treachery. It is only a matter of time before members of each family are found murdered and it is up to Nate and Tommy to find the killer before more bodies fall, potentially reigniting a war.”

Continue reading “Blog Tour: Frozen Rage by Steve McHugh” →
#5OnMyTBR – Books about Books
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Books about Books

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook where you chose five books from your to-be-read pile that fit that week’s theme. If you’d like more info, head over to the announcement post!

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another 5 On My TBR! Well, I know I’m a day late but your girl was T I R E D last night. The effects of staying up too late the night before playing Paper Mario, lol. Anyways, I’m pretty excited about the theme today! Why, you ask? Because today, we’re talking about one of my favorite things: books about books! Seriously, give me a book that involves some bookish element (say, it’s set in a library or centers around a different “book” in the story) and I’m probably gonna love it. Some of my favorite stories are books about books! The Starless Sea comes to mind right off the top of my head.

With that being said, I have a lot of books on my TBR that would fall under this category. Choosing the five books I most want to read soon was tough! But I think I finally have it narrowed down. Without further ado, let’s jump in!

#1. Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spence

I’m gonna start this list with a non-fiction selection. I know… who even am I? But I’ve been wanting to read this love letter to books for quite some time! I enjoy talking to people who love the written word just as much as I do, so I imagine I’ll enjoying reading about a bookish person, as well. Also, I really love this cover. A woman balancing precariously on a stack of books speaks to my soul, lol.

#2. Tilly and the Lost Fairytales by Anna James

From non-fiction to middle grade, this book has been on my radar since I read the first one in this series. It was just so cute! This book follows Tilly and her friend Oskar, who are both bookwanderers. They can actually visit their favorite books and wander inside the story. How cool does that sound? In this installment, they wander into fairytales and I can’t wait to get lost with them!

#3. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry

One day I will actually stop putting this book on various “I want to read this!” lists and actually read it, lol. A book about a person that can bring book characters out of their books sounds like it would be right up my alley. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this one, too. I can’t wait to finally read this one.

#4. The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith

I love the concept of this book. A library in Hell? Where unfinished books are kept and restless characters can escape? It sounds incredible! This is another one that I’ve heard a lot of great things about. I actually own this one, too! I’m ready to see why it gets so much love and see what Hell’s librarians are really like.

#5. The Binding by Bridget Collins

This is a book that I originally looked into because of the cover. I mean, that cover is gorgeous!! And then I found out it’s about the ability to bind memories in books and I was even more intrigued. Again, I’ve heard amazing things about this book. I can’t wait to finally read it! I kind of want my own copy, too, because how could I not want a book this beautiful?

Do you enjoy reading books about books? Which ones are on your TBR? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

Blog Tour: Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pickney
blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pickney

kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

Hello, reader!

I’m on a roll with these blog tours, aren’t I? Look, a lot of great opportunities caught my attention at the same time and I couldn’t say no! In this case, I’m particularly glad that I didn’t because this book… y’all, this book made me feel some kind of way. We’ll be talking about my favorite quotes and my own voices reflections in a moment, but I just want to a second right now to say this was I N C R E D I B L E!

I would also like to take a moment to thank Hear Our Voices Book Tours for letting me participate in yet another one of their amazing book promotions! And, of course, a huge thank you to not only HOV, but the publisher, Little, Brown for Young Readers, for sending me a finished copy in exchange for my participation and honest review. And, of course, please check out the other amazing content creators on this tour by clicking HERE!

Alright, let’s get to it!

Synopsis

“From a bestselling and award-winning husband and wife team comes an innovative, beautifully illustrated novel that delivers a front-row seat to the groundbreaking moments in history that led to African Americans earning the right to vote.

“Right here, I’m sharing the honest-to-goodness.” — Loretta

“I’m gon’ reach back, and tell how it all went. I’m gon’ speak on it. My way.” — Roly

“I got more nerve than a bad tooth. But there’s nothing bad about being bold.” — Aggie B.

Loretta, Roly, and Aggie B., members of the Little family, each present the vivid story of their young lives, spanning three generations. Their separate stories — beginning in a cotton field in 1927 and ending at the presidential election of 1968 — come together to create one unforgettable journey.

Through an evocative mix of fictional first-person narratives, spoken-word poems, folk myths, gospel rhythms and blues influences, Loretta Little Looks Back weaves an immersive tapestry that illuminates the dignity of sharecroppers in the rural South. Inspired by storytelling’s oral tradition, stirring vignettes are presented in a series of theatrical monologues that paint a gripping, multidimensional portrait of America’s struggle for civil rights as seen through the eyes of the children who lived it. The novel’s unique format invites us to walk in their shoes. Each encounters an unexpected mystical gift, passed down from one family member to the next, that ignites their experience what it means to reach for freedom.”

Continue reading “Blog Tour: Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pickney” →
Blog Tour: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

Look at me posting two blog tour posts in a row! I’m making up for my lack of posts last week, lol. Today, I’ll be participating in a tour put on by Dave @ TheWriteReads for a book that fulfilled all my twists and turns needs! I’m talking about a new YA mystery called The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes! This book just came out earlier this month and a lot of people have been raving about it. After reading it myself, I can see why!

Before we get into my post, I’d like the thank Dave @ TheWriteReads, as always, and the publisher, Penguin Platform, for sending my a free e-ARC in exchange for my participation on this tour and an honest review.

Now, let’s get to it!

Synopsis

“An utterly addictive and twisty thriller, full of dark family secrets and deadly stakes. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Knives Out.

She came from nothing.
Avery has a plan: keep her head down, work hard for a better future.
Then an eccentric billionaire dies, leaving her almost his entire fortune. And no one, least of all Avery, knows why.

They had everything.
Now she must move into the mansion she’s inherited.
It’s filled with secrets and codes, and the old man’s surviving relatives –
a family hell-bent on discovering why Avery got ‘their’ money.

Now there’s only one rule: winner takes all.
Soon she is caught in a deadly game that everyone in this strange family is playing.
But just how far will they go to keep their fortune?

‘A fantastic rollercoaster of a book! We Were Liars meets The Da Vinci Code. I loved it!’ Kat Ellis, author of Harrow Lake

‘A thrilling blend of family secrets, illicit romance and a high-stakes treasure hunt . . . The nonstop twists kept me guessing until the very last page!’ Katharine McGee, New York Times bestselling author of American Royals“

Continue reading “Blog Tour: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes” →
Blog Tour: Vampires Never Get Old edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: Vampires Never Get Old edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

Now that it is officially spooky season, I find myself craving all the creepy reads. So, when I saw the call for participants for the Vampires Never Get Old tour hosted by Hear Our Voices Book Tours, I jumped all over it! Make sure to check out the other amazing hosts on this tour by clicking HERE.

I’m going to be upfront right now: vampires and I have a rocky past. I went through a period where they were my favorite creatures of the night. I couldn’t get enough vampire content! But, recently, I’ve felt mostly lackluster towards them and I’m gonna go ahead and blame the True Blood TV series for that. Thanks a lot, Bill.

That being said, I’ve been feeling that old love coming back. I’ve been craving a good vampire story to sample to see if, perhaps, they can reclaim their top spot as my favorite creepsters. What better way to do that than with an anthology dedicated to our fanged fiends? This entire anthology was a lot of fun and I can’t thank Hear Our Voices and the publisher, Imprint/MacMillan, for letting me read this book early in exchange for participating in this tour!

But enough of my rambling. Let’s dig into this tour post, shall we?

Synopsis

“Eleven fresh vampire stories from young adult fiction’s leading voices!

In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Welcome to the evolution of the vampire―and a revolution on the page.

Vampires Never Get Old includes stories by authors both bestselling and acclaimed, including Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley.”

Continue reading “Blog Tour: Vampires Never Get Old edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker” →