erinbrings's reviews
280 reviews

Weed Empire How I Battled Gangsters, Investment Banks, and the Department of Justice to Build the Cannabis Industry in America by Adam Bierman

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Weed Empire 
Publishes April 22, 2025

Weed Empire: How I Battled Gangsters, Investment Banks, and the Department of Justice to Build the Cannabis Industry in America by Adam Bierman, Narrated by Adam Bierman. This was absolutely fascinating and I learned so much that I didn’t know about the cannabis industry in America. Adam the cofounder of MedMen tells his story about how he didn’t start out with a plan to sell weed or even developing the network of cannabis stores he did. He also didn’t ever think he would have to face gangsters, hide his money in shoeboxes or take on public markets and the biggest hurdle the justice system. 
MedMen, Americas first “cannabis unicorn” as well as it being the first globally recognized cannabis brand. The kid from the suburbs who joined the cannabis scene who helped reimagine weed for the mainstream, one who jumped at the chance to help with conversations about legalizing marijuana. 
I really enjoyed this book and learned alot about the struggles and just how much money and effort and lobbying it took to expand cannabis in America. I do think it was strange that Adam still wanted his father’s approval despite all the nasty things he would say to his mother. I also didn’t like that Adam screamed and kicked his wife out of a car when she asked for help and for him to be present with the kids. Ive seen to many people who didn’t have parents active in their lives and you can really tell a difference in the type of person they become later in life. While arrogant at times, Adam for sure wouldn’t be where he is today. 

Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words.

A Curse for the Homesick by Laura Brooke Robson

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A Curse for the Homesick 

Published Feb 18, 2025

A Curse for the Homesick by Laura Brooke Robson Narrated by Ruth Urquhart. This was such a perfect blend of romance, mystery an magic. I really related to Tess and Soren when it came to their feelings of the island. The way that no matter what home holds on to you even when you try to get away. The way home shapes you into who you are whether you like it or not. I loved Tess’s relationship with her best friends and the bonds they had and how complex they were. Robson has a way of writing that is just so beautiful, so you really feel it. I will definitely be looking into other books by Robson! 

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words. 

The Arts Trail Killer by Emylia Hall

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

A Curse for the Homesick 
Published Feb 18, 2025

A Curse for the Homesick by Laura Brooke Robson Narrated by Ruth Urquhart. This was such a perfect blend of romance, mystery an magic. I really related to Tess and Soren when it came to their feelings of the island. The way that no matter what home holds on to you even when you try to get away. The way home shapes you into who you are whether you like it or not. I loved Tess’s relationship with her best friends and the bonds they had and how complex they were. Robson has a way of writing that is just so beautiful, so you really feel it. I will definitely be looking into other books by Robson! 

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words.

Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Six Days in Bombay

Publishes April 15, 2025 

Narrator: Sneha Mathan 

TRIGGER WARNING: MISCARRIAGE

Six Days in Bombay was a beautiful story about a renowned painter Mira Novak. Mira arrives to Waida Hospital in Bombay after suffering a miscarriage. As Mira recovers her nurse Sona wanted to learn more about her due to sharing her half-indian identity. Sona finds herself wanting more from life after hearing all Mira’s stories about her travels, and exploits, even all the lovers she had as she made her way all over. Things turned rapidly as Mira ends up back in the hospital again suddenly dying, leaving Sona under suspicion, forcing her to find new means of work. 

Mira left Sona four paintings with cryptic messages sending her on a wild goose chase all over to deliver paintings to people once in Mira’s life. Not only was Sona able to go see many new places she was also able to learn that Mira’s life wasn’t all she made it out to be and that things were so much more complicated. 

This was my first book by Alka Joshi and let me tell you it WONT be my last. I wasn’t always a fan of women’s fiction but I really have been enjoying it lately and some of my favorite new books fall in this category. I highly recommend reading this amazing story. 

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words. 

My Daughter Is Missing: An utterly gripping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist by J.D. Kirk

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

My Daughter is Missing

Publishes April 16, 2025

My Daughter is Missing by JD Kirk Narrated by Cathleen McCarron 

The suspense in My Daughter is Missing had me on the edge of my chair the WHOLE time. Elizabeth, whose nine year old is missing is NOT like most parents with a missing child, like avoiding calling the police. This drove me insane because if my child was missing that would be the very first thing I would do. Something isn’t right and it seemed as if she was trying to keep her past from getting out, or getting back in. Without spoiling anything this was a wild ride especially the ending. 

This was a suspenseful, emotional, tense read with so many twists. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this and the narrator did a really good job bringing Elizabeth and her sister Sasha to life. This is one for the action packed thriller lovers! 

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words. 

Beneath These Walls by Shade Owens

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Trigger warning: Domestic Abuse, Murder 

Published March 3, 2025

Beneath These Walls by Shade Owens had me on the edge of my chair start to finish and I was constantly wondering if characters were lying or being honest. Alice is a mother who is on the run with her children from her abusive husband. Her husband attacked her so bad that he almost killed her and that’s when she knew she needed to save her kids and herself by leaving. Alice and her two sons went into hiding from her abusive husband, only this time they are changing their names and moving to a different state. Alice receives a call that her uncle has passes away leaving her his entire estate that includes his massive Victorian Era home and $2.5 million. This money and home couldn’t have come at a better time.

In their new home Alice changes her name to Emma to really ensure he cant find them or hire someone to find them. But shortly after moving into her uncles home she began finding threatening nose throughout the home. This only was the tip of the iceberg of what was going to be going on in that home and in their new lives. While playing hide and seek her youngest son stumbles across something absolutely terrifying in a secret spot in the basement. It had me questioning did her ex find her a the boys again, were the rumors of her uncle doing distributing things true? Can Emma trust the new people in her life including the police and friends? 

This is an unforgettable story, that still has me questioning who could they really trust and which people around them are out to get them. This is a book that you can’t put down, it leaves you on the edge of your chair till the very end. I love how this book truly highlights a mother’s strength when she needs to protect her family and herself. This book is for those who love psychological thrillers and stories about what someone would do to protect their own. 

Thank you Netgalley and Red Raven Publishing for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words. 

The Webs You Weave by Shade Owens

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Published Feb 24, 2025

The Webs You Weave by Shade Owens is my second book by her and these books grab your attention and leave you in a chokehold till the end. 

Cole, a compulsive liar, serial cheater, gaslighter extraordinaire who only hires the prettiest assistance. Cole is playing a dangerous game and he doesn’t even know just how dangerous and twisted it will get. The characters in this book are WILD. It has multuple POV and Shade writes the chapters to be extremely engaging but short at the same time to keep you wanting more. 

Meghan, Coles wife, I mean let’s face it, they needed a divorce A LONG time ago. Meghan is recovering from a brain injury, which left her disfigured sand partially paralyzed. Meghan stays at home and care for the house and Hazel their teenage daughter. Hazel, the glue to their marriage, the only reason Meghan stays while Cole is out galavanting with his pretty assistants wining and dining them. Little does he know what Meghan is doing in the background to get back at Cole. 

I highly recommend any Shade Owens book if you enjoy Frieda Mcfadden or Riley Sager books. I loved the dual narration and listening on audio really made it feel like I was in the book as a fly on the wall taking it all in. This psychological thriller really had be seconding guessing myself when I thought I knew what was happening next. 

Thank you Netgalley and Red Raven Publishing for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words. 

Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Published March 18, 2025
Trigger Warning: OCD, Disordered Eating, Anxiety, Mental Health, Parental loss, PTSD, panic attacks

Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire was so emotional, raw and beautiful. This is the third book in the Sugarlake series, but it is also an interconnected standalone book. This book stole my heart, Emily really knows how to write about love. I love Blakely and Jackson. Blakely is so relatable with her struggles, she puts a mask on so others think she is perfection and has no problems. She is a social media influence and her father wants her to get serious about life, so she has to work in his shop where Jackson works. Jackson was friend zoned by his long time best friend so he ran to Sugarlake to live out his father’s dream of building cars for movies. This is where Jackson falls for Blakely, who really knows how to push his buttons especially with the age gap between them Blakely being nineteen and Jackson being twenty-eight. 
Emily really knows how to portray mental health issues in a book. It was raw and real adding so much to this book. The angst between Blakely and Jackson is wild, both think they aren’t good enough, yet they would do anything and everything for those they love, even if it means they will break their own heart in the process. I really hope there is a book 4 in thus series because I need to know what happens next I can’t take it with cliff hangers. But I loved this book and couldn’t stop listening to it.

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words.

At the Island's Edge by C. I. Jerez

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

At the Island’s Edge is an amazing debut novel from C. I. Jerez. It’s extremely powerful and moving look into the sacrifices that our soldiers make on a daily basis. The sacrifices that aren’t just when deployed and during active duty time but also long after the return home. Lina LaSalle’s journey was very open and emotional, showing what soldiers deal with the lasting effects of the war, struggles with PTSD and her battles being a mother. 

This was set in the lush backdrop of Puerto Rico. The author really captures the complexity of Lina’s struggles, how resilient she is. It really highlights just how much family and home are important. I really liked that it highlighted military women who are so often forgotten, especially with their battles of PTSD. The narrator was spot on. The book really made me think of the struggles in The Women by Kristin Hannah, so if you enjoyed that book I highly recommend this book. 

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. This review was completely voluntary and my own words.

A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Published March 11, 2025
A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin Narrated by Allyson Morgan 
This book had my attention from the start, packed with rich behaving badly, secrets and so many twists and turns. This book had so much drama and tension that left me hooked listening to it to find out what happens next. Maya Miller, a former reality tv star now Sterling wife, thought that she was going to be living a life of luxury. She was rudely mistaken, Maya walked right into a murder, a family who wanted to see her dead and a fortune she never asked for. The Sterlings were a wild dysfunctional family, I mean unhinged. 
The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat, some I saw coming others my jaw was on the floor. The pacing was perfect and suited the book and storyline well. Maya was built different than most, I would have been out of there SO FAST. Allyson Morgan killed it with the narration. She made it seem so real the way a audiobook lover always wants. 

Trigger Warning: Death of family member, arson, murder, infidelity, neglectful parents, institutionalization, incarceration, robbery, thievery, alcohol, sexual content 

Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words.