Tag Archives: Thriller

FOREST OF OBSESSION (Alexis Forrest:FBI Thriller 5) by Kate Gable

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FOREST OF OBSESSION (Alexis Forrest: FBI Mystery Thriller 5) by Kate Gable-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 31, 2024

Forensic psychologist and FBI agent Alexis Forrest is on the hunt for a serial killer who has been terrorizing New England for decades. Years ago, her teenage sister fell victim to this predator, but the wrong person was convicted and sent to prison and the real killer is still out there.

The eerie calm of Broken Hill, Alexis’s hometown, is shattered when a string of brutal killings resurfaces, echoing the nightmare of her past.

For years, everyone thought he was gone and then he strikes again.

After her father’s house is burned down and her mother receives threats, Alexis knows she’s running out of time.

The killer has set his sights on her.

With her own life on the line, she must confront her deepest fears in order to uncover the true identity of the illusive murderer before it’s too late.

Teaming up once again with her former flame and partner, Mitch, Alexis plunges into a desperate race against time. But as the body count rises and the killer’s taunts grow bolder, Alexis realizes she’s facing someone who knows her every move.

With each step bringing her closer into the killer’s twisted game, Alexis grapples with the chilling realization that the key to stopping the bloodshed may lie in the darkest corners of her own past.

Can she stop him in time or will she become just another one of his victims?

•••••••••

REVIEW: FOREST OF OBSESSION is the fifth instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult ALEXIS FORREST: FBI MYSTERY THRILLER series focusing on Forensic Psychologist FBI Agent Alexis Forrest. FOREST OF OBSESSION should not be read as a stand alone as the events of the current timeline are as of a direct result of the previous four instalments.

SOME BACKGROUND: Twenty years earlier, Alexis’ older sister Maddie was abducted and murdered, destroying the Forrest family in the process. With her return to Broken Hill to investigate a series of similar abductions, Alexis will reconnect with family, and the man who once held her heart.

Told from three first person perspectives (Alexis, Mitch, Tyler) FOREST OF OBSESSION continues to focus on FBI Agent Alexis Forrest’s search for her sister’s killer. As Alexis‘ investigation begins to gain traction, our heroine will discover there may be more than one person responsible for close to thirty years of death and destruction. Refusing to sit back and wait, Alexis places herself in the direct line of fire, often at the risk of her own life and the lives of the people she loves. As the picture begins to coalesce for our story line heroine, someone else continues to pull the strings, pulling our heroine head first into a game of cat and mouse.

Meanwhile, Alexis’ relationship with Mitch Dutton is about to be tested when Alexis’ obsession with a serial killer threatens any potential happiness or trust for our story line couple. Unable to let go, Alexis unwittingly pushes the man that she loves to reconsider their lives going forward but Mitch is the stabilizing foundation for our story line heroine.

FOREST OF OBSESSION is the culmination of five instalments wherein FBI Agent Alexis Forrest often deviates from her daily routine and assignments in an effort to bring down a man who has taken the lives of so many. FOREST OF OBSESSION is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal, power and control, obsession and madness, forgiveness and acceptance. The premise is edgy and dramatic; the characters are determined and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Forest of Silence
Forest of Shadows
Forest of Secrets
Forest of Lies

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Left Behind by Sharon Sala – a Review

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Left Behind by Sharon Sala – a Review

 

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Description:
Everything that was lost will be found again.

Jubilee PD Officer Wiley Pope thinks he’s ruined things with Linette Elgin. He hasn’t seen or heard from the local nurse since their date gone wrong. But when Wiley’s trip to the bank turns into a robbery with Linette as one of the hostages, his training and protective instincts kick into full gear. A heroic bullet to his armor-protected chest is enough for Linette to forgive Wiley’s past mistakes and begin anew.

While his love for Linette grows daily, Wiley finds himself in over his head when a murder investigation is linked to Pope Mountain. If that wasn’t enough, a woman from Wiley’s father’s past abandons her seven-year-old daughter at the police station in an attempted money scheme. But the minute the woman signs over her parental rights, Wiley and Linette welcome the wary little girl into their family and show her what real love looks like.

 

 

Review:

Left Behind by Sharon Sala is the 4th book in her wonderful Jubilee, Kentucky series.  The story focuses on Wiley Pope, who loves his job as a Jubilee police officer.  Wiley has a crush on Linette Elgin, who is a local hospital nurse, but after a date that ended up wrong, due to two ladies who ruined the date; Linette wanted nothing to do with Wiley.   When a robbery at the local bank occurs, Linette finds herself as one of the hostages; with Wiley one of the cops coming to the rescue. Linette sees how he protected the hostages, and sees all that he does, she relents and decides to give him a second chance.

A murder investigation begins in Pop Mountain, with a woman shot in the back. Turns out that the woman’s brother was murdered, and she was found in the mountains with a serious injury. Wiley is assigned to guard her at the hospital; and learning more about the attempt on her life.  There are bad people, who have tried to kill the women, who they fear would identify them; but friends and police are on top of things, with the woman safe.

A woman, Corina, from Wiley’s father’s past, brings her 7-year-old daughter, to the police station, in an attempt abandoned the child in a money scheme; Wiley finds himself adoring the little girl, Ava.  He makes a deal with Corina, that he will adopt her, and free Corina to her move on with her own life.  Ava, was a cute and adorable child that everyone, including all the Pope family, as well as Linette loved. Ava did have a rough life in her 7 years, and as she meets all of the Pope family, Linette, she is beside herself as now having a family that she will love.

Left Behind was an emotional, wonderful, sweet story, with all the members of the Pope family playing a big part in this story.  Wiley and Linette made a great couple.  Everyone love young Ava, and Wiley was so happy to have Linette and Ava as his family.  There were a couple of suspense mysteries that played a large part of this book.  Left Behind was very well written by Sharon Sala. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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The Confidence Games by Tess Amy – a Review

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The Confidence Games by Tess Amy – a Review

 

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Description:
Two female con artists must pull off the ultimate heist in this rollicking caper from a dazzling new voice.

Emma Oxley and Nellie Yarrow have been inseparable their whole lives. Ever since they reinvented themselves, changing their names and wiping clean their digital footprints, they have made a game of following wherever the next adventure leads and challenging themselves to thefts, street cons, and mind games.

Adhering to only two rules—they will only swindle men, and only ones who deserve it—Emma and Nellie are secure in their reputation as the most trustworthy swindlers on the European black market. Until suddenly, they must play to save their own lives.

Blackmailed into stealing a priceless bracelet from a high-security exhibit, Emma will reexamine everything she believed to be true. This heist takes her far beyond her comfort zone…and she and Nellie will need allies among the glitzy bejeweled gathering in London in order to survive. Will they be able to do the right thing before it’s too late?

 

 

Review:

The Confidence Games by Tess Amy is a fun standalone novel about two best friends who are con artists. We meet Emma Oxley and Nellie Yarrow, who have been best friends forever.  When Emma lost her job, as well as her fiancée, she is despondent, but when Nellie shows up, everything is about to change.  

They reinvent themselves, changing their names, and cleaning digital prints, with them becoming very successful con artists over a 5-year period; making a name for themselves in the European Black Market.  They develop many cons travelling the world, to swindle men, operating under fake personas, stealing valuable things and reselling to them to highest bidders. I really loved their wonderful inspiring friendship and how successful they were. 

But when Nellie is kidnapped, Emma is forced make a plan on stealing a very expensive bracelet (worth millions), The Heart of Envy from a London high-security exhibit. The difficulty of the heist, is because of so much high-tech security, as well as people all over. Nellie is released to help Emma steal the bracelet, with death threats holding against them; they have to race against time to save their own lives. Dax is a member of their team, being a tech and hacking expert. Sophia was a young girl, who was locked up, as Nellie and Emma helped keep the girl save with Dax.  As the day arrives, and plans are put into place, they discover surprising reveals and a family that stays together to fight the battle. To say too much more would ruin it for you, and the last quarter of the books was very exciting.

 I have to say I actually loved this book, as it was so much fun and very enjoyable.  I loved both Emma and Nellie, as well as Dax and Sophia.  The Confidence Games was very well written by Tess Amy, whom I have never read before but I will check out her next book.  The Confidence Games was a fun, delightful, action-filled, suspenseful, exciting story, with wonderful characters, and an amazing heist. I suggest you read this book, as it was so much fun.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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You’ll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan – a Review

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You’ll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan – a Review

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Description:
Nothing brings family together like crime.

Working alone as a private investigator is tough. Estranged from her PI family, Margo Angelhart does what she must to get by—including taking on sordid cases that pay the bills, even if she’d rather be helping those the justice system has failed.

That is, until a cheating husband case she’s working intersects with her siblings’ corporate espionage investigation, forcing Margo to cooperate with the Angelhart firm. Now, as the siblings compare notes, it’s clear they need to work together before a white-collar crime escalates to murder.

With far more questions than answers and a key suspect on the run, they’ll need the whole family to pitch in. But as they investigate the ever-twisting mystery, Margo isn’t sharing everything. Can she learn to trust her family and heal their once-close relationship before her secrets put those she loves most in danger?

 

 

Review:

You’ll Never Find Me by Allison Brennan is the start of a wonderful new series, Angelhart Investigations. The Angelhart family owns their own private investigation firm, and Margo Angelhart broke away from her family and opened her own PI firm, taking all kinds of cases.  When her father was sent to prison for killing a man, and though they knew he was innocent, the father did not want to reveal anything and accepted his prison term.  Margo wanted to find the truth, but her mother (who runs the Angelhart PI firm) was determined to keep whatever secret her husband had; this led Margo to go on her own. She still sees the family on occasion, during celebrations. 

The story starts with Margo helping a woman, who suffers from an abusive husband. Margo arranges for Annie and her two children to take the minimal, and leave while her husband is at work; no phones, no computers, nothing to reveal anything.  With Margo’s help, Annie does escape, with no one knowing where she is ending up.  Eventually, the bad husband (state trouper) will discover both Margo and her uncle, helped his wife leave, and he is determined to get her back at any cost; even if they themselves do not know where she was.  The husband claimed his innocence, as its his right to abuse or rape her. 

The second story involves corporate espionage, but Margo has taken a case whose wife thinks he is cheating on her.   She hasn’t found any evidence that her husband is cheating, but the wife begs for her to keep checking for a couple more days.  Margo follows him, and discovers the husband (Logan Monroe) and a woman (jennifer) unconscious on the floor; she breaks into the house to help both of them, and cops are called.  To her surprise, her brother Jack and sister, Tess are also on the scene, and learns from them that the woman, Jennifer is being investigated for possible corporate espionage. Margo realizes that the wife who claimed her husband cheating, has more going on, and she joins hands with her family to discover the real truth, that involves crime, a thief and a wife trying to scam her husband for money.

I thought Margo was a terrific investigator, especially handling both of those cases.   I loved her family, especially Jack, who was beside her in both of the cases; he pushed for Margo to work with the family on the espionage case.  The rest of the family members, Lulu, Tess, Nico and their mother (she’s the boss) were all great.  Logan was the man whom his wife thought he was cheating, and he turned out to be a big help with the Angelhart team; as well as Jennifer, who had information regarding the company she worked for.

You’ll Never Find Me was an exciting compelling double mystery thriller.  It was nice to see all the Angelhart siblings work together, working toward putting the family back as a team. Allison Brennan gives us a fantastic story that was so very well written.  I look forward to reading more from this series, Angelhardt Investigations.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Storm Warning by David Bell – a Review

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Storm Warning by David Bell – a Review

 

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Description:
A man living on a Florida barrier island must protect his family from both an approaching hurricane and a relentless killer.

Jake Powell is racing to get off the island as a powerful hurricane approaches. When he finds his best friend Dallas, the building manager, dead from a blow to the skull, Jake realizes there’s more than the storm to fear. There’s a murderer on the island, maybe even still inside the nearly abandoned building.

Dallas had repeatedly run afoul of the wealthy owners of the building by complaining about code violations and the precarious state of the condos. But he’d also once told Jake that every resident had a secret they’d come to Florida to escape. Had one of them killed to conceal their sins? As a dozen people shelter together in hopes of surviving the deadly hurricane, a second murder makes it all too clear: one of them is a dangerous killer.

 

Review:

Storm Warning by David Bell is an exciting thriller, which kept my attention from start to finish.  Jake Powell, our hero, is living on an island in Florida, and with an approaching powerful hurricane, he makes plans to leave. The few residents in their decrepit building don’t want to leave, and the manager, Dallas watches over them.  When Jake hurries to leave, he finds Dallas dead from a blow to the head.  Jake is concerned, as he knows that there is a murderer within the building.  With the roads closed off, Jake decides he has to stay to protect those residents still there. 

Jake left his wife and daughter in Ohio, to escape temporarily in Florida, but to his surprise, his wife and daughter decided to visit Jake, just about getting into the building as the Category 3 hurricane begins to escalate on the small island. 

With the building slowly falling apart, Jake will convince other apartment dwellers to move into one of the bigger units, with them all staying close together; especially with a dangerous murderer still at large. When there is another murder, the residents are not sure who to trust, but Jake is determined to protect them all, as they are fighting for their lives. They are all completely cutoff from the mainland, while those in shelter together, keep their hopes in surviving the deadly hurricane, as well as a murderer. Some of the residents claim they saw a man inside the building, but is this their imagination, as they are on high alert.

Just when the eye of the hurricane gives the vibe of relative calm, Jake will let his wife, she is an expert on handling boats, and daughter take the boat to the mainland for help, praying they will survive.  During the time they were all together, we got to meet other residents, and their stories; even though there was some suspicion among them. I did like Jake, as the was a terrific leader, always trying to keep them all safe. 

Storm Warning was an exciting story that kept me glued to my kindle.  This was an interesting cast of characters, which were very good.  Storm Warning was very well written by David Bell.  I did think that the murderer was different than anyone would have guessed.   I enjoyed the book, and suggest if you like thrillers, you should read Storm Warning.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Cul-De-Sac by Liz Crowe-review

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Cul-De-Sac by Liz Crowe-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 11, 2024

Welcome to Connelly Court. A secluded, old money neighborhood, harboring a web of desires and deceit behind pristine facades and manicured lawns, where the lives of a group of neighbors, bound by their shared secrets and unconventional lifestyle, are about to unravel.

Michael and Amelia Ross move into their dream home, and get drawn into the seductive allure. But their house once belonged to a family whose lives were seemingly ruined by their participation, which leads Amelia to question everything about her new-found friends. Suspicions run rampant as the close-knit group turns on each other. Lies, betrayals, and hidden agendas are revealed, ripping apart the fabric that once bound the group together.

“Cul-de-Sac” is a dark tale of marriage, friendship, desire, and betrayal, where nothing is as it seems, and the truth may be more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Discover the twisted secrets of Connelly Court in this chilling domestic suspense novel that will leave you questioning just how well you truly know—or should know—your neighbors.

••••

REVIEW:I have to admit, this isn’t my usual read. But the blurb sounded pretty interesting.
I definitely got stepford vibes. The perfect lawns, everything in its place…..

Michael and Amelia have moved into what seems like an idyllic setting. Amelia has lots of ideas and is determined to have this house as the next family home… Not even the death of the last owner is going to change her mind!

Multiple points of view to this story made it a little confusing at times, but give it a couple of chapters and you’ll know who is who.
I liked how we got to know each person as an individual, as well as a couple.

The swinging side of the book is covered, but unlike some authors, this one doesn’t harp on or dramatises it. It’s not for everyone, but it seems this little community has it all organised. Or do they? We see cracks in relationships, we see the strain of jealousy and dare I say, discontent in some of the characters. The death of a former swinger put the lifestyle on hold for a while. But once it restarts, you get the feeling it’s not the same as it was!

The secrets are slow to come to the surface, but once they start, it’s like an avalanche! Can Micheal and Amelia navigate it safely? Or will it rock their foundations?

It is a little slow paced for third of the book, but once it picks up, you’re left holding on for the bumpy ride! I felt we could have had more information at the beginning of the book. The last third of the book seemed a little rushed, but maybe that’s just me 🤷🏻‍♀️

That was not what I was expecting. Betrayal/twists/surprises/suspense and a murder to solve. The clues are there, will you guess it right?

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

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Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in South Carolina. She’s spent her time as a three-continent expat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner and bar manager, and is currently a digital marketing and fundraising consultant, in addition to being an award-winning author.

The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.

Her favorite things to do when she’s not scrolling social media for cute animal videos is walk her dogs, cuddle her cats, and watch her favorite sports teams while scrolling social media for cute animal videos.

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AMNESIA by Ellie Grace (Kelly Elliott) -review tour

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AMNESIA by Ellie Grace (Kelly Elliott) -review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 18, 2024

I’m scared.
When will this nightmare end?

Darkness and cold has tortured me.
I can’t remember anything.

He’s coming.
His footsteps echo like a wrecking ball in my head.

He’s getting closer.
Breathe.

He’s almost here.
I must escape.

He’s here.
Breath tickles my face.

With what little strength I have, I find my way to the sunlight.

Tortured moans become more distant.
Run faster.

I drop with exhaustion.
Did I make it far enough?

I’m being lifted.
Warmth engulfs me.

Please let this be my savior and not my captor.

•••••••••

REVIEW: AMNESIA by Kelly Elliott writing as Ellie Grace is a contemporary, adult , stand alone, thriller focusing on twenty-seven year old Mallory Wilson, and rancher Liam Sanders.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspective (Liam and Mallory) AMNESIA follows in the wake of the abduction and captivity of our story line heroine. Approximately one month earlier, Mallory Wilson sold her house, and placed everything into storage, and headed to Chicago in the hopes of a new future. Several days later Mallory was living a nightmare-a captive of a madman who had plans for our story line heroine . Having escaped, and on the run, Mallory would be rescued by rancher Liam Sanders, and man whose own past may be running parallel to the horror of Mallory’s life. Without any memory of what happened or why, Mallory would struggle to remember, as the memories begin to reveal a little at a time. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Mallory and Liam, as they navigate a potential betrayal.

The world building focuses on the search for a kidnapped, a possible killer, and the connections to our story line couple. Mallory and Liam never met prior to Mallory’s rescue and recovery but their attraction is immediate.

The relationship between Mallory and Liam begins as a rescue. Mallory’s escape culminates in the building romance between our story line couple, as Liam relives the heart break from his past. There are no $ex scenes, everything is implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and questionable secondary and supporting characters including family, friends, law enforcement and ranch hands.

AMNESIA is a story of madness, murder, obsession and betrayal, secrets and lies, power and control. The premise is intriguing and intense; the romance is subtle and fated; the characters are desperate and animated.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Lost Love, and Never Enough, to name a few.

Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, Gus, her chocolate lab, four cats, and endless wildlife creatures. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.

 

Connect with Kelly

Website | https://www.kellyelliottauthor.com

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Facebook Group | https://bit.ly/2ElCLyG

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Newsletter | https://bit.ly/32gz70W

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Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow – a Review

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Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow – a Review

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Description:
What you don’t know can hurt you….

It’s been months since the accident that killed Ella’s best friend, Hayley, and Ella can’t stop blaming herself. Now Ella is back at school, and everywhere she looks are reminders of her best friend—including Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend. Little by little, they grow closer, until Ella realizes something horrifying . . .

She’s in love with her dead best friend’s boyfriend.

Racked with guilt, Ella turns to Hayley’s journal, hoping she’ll find something in the pages that will make her feel better about what’s happening. Instead, she discovers that Sawyer has secrets of his own and that his relationship with Hayley wasn’t as picture-perfect as it seemed.

Ella knows she should stay away but finds herself inextricably drawn to him—and scared of everything she never knew about him. Perhaps it’s his grief. Or maybe his desires, cut short by tragedy. Or could it be something twisted only Hayley knew about?

 

Review:

Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow is a standalone YA thriller novel.  We meet Ella, a 17-year-old senior, returning to school, and still grieving the death of her best friend, Hayley. Ella, who was in a car accident that killed, Hayley, continues to blame herself for what happened, and has no memory of that tragic night. With her feelings of guilt, Ella seeks the assistance of the school therapist. She also is told by Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend, that it was not her fault, which calms her down; and they bond together, sharing their grief. The Pov’s switch between Ella and Sawyer, as well as Hayley’s diary, which Ella discovers and read throughout.  

Ella and Sawyer both begin to have strong feelings for each other. But once she starts reading Hayley’s diary, what she discovers change things.  When Ella starts reading more of the diary, she is horrified about violent attempts on Hayley by Sawyer; especially as she reads about her boyfriend “S”.  Was this Sawyer?

Ella goes to the school therapist for help, as she fears another side to Sawyer, would make him dangerous. The therapist will get her help, with the police interviewing Sawyer. The further she reads, Ella will find herself in danger, as new revelations reveal a dark secret that Ella never knew regarding Haley.

The story was easy to follow, as the pacing was very good, and it kept my attention from the start. There were a number of twists throughout.   I will note that there were some sex scenes, which should have been more of NA novel.  Ella resumed her friendship with Seema, as they became distant after her friendship with Hayley; but Seema turned out to be a good friend helping Ella get past her grief.

Everything We Never Said was a wonderful YA Thriller, with real life issues that led to a mystery that Ella triggered reading Hayley’s diary; leading to a dark secret filled with tension and suspense. Everything We Never Said was a gripping, emotional and intense novel; which was very well written by Sloan Harlow.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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