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mackenzierm's reviews
1612 reviews
Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young
5.0
When Clara starts her new dream job as an assistant to her photography idol, she’s met with an assumption she didn’t expect. Now she suddenly needs to bring a girlfriend to the gallery opening in a few weeks, all because she failed to admit that she is, in fact, straight. Evan was recently dumped by her fiancé and fellow teaching colleague, so when she gets news that the staff holiday party will be held at her ex-fiancé and new partner’s home, she’s utterly horrified and in need of a quick solution. Together, Clara and Evan, lifelong friends, make a plan to get through their two events by pretending to date one another… easy, right?
SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT is a cute sapphic romance novella set in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays. It’s narrated in dual POV, alternating between Evan and Clara’s perspectives.
I adored both Evan and Clara – they’re so well written and relatable. I love the relationship they share as friends, and the love that builds between them. The chemistry they share is palpable with some well-written spicy scenes.
As a special note, Clara’s parents are wonderful human beings, and I absolutely adored them and the love and kindness they share with others. They’re such warm and welcoming people.
Another thing to love is that there’s no third act breakup and this story also features the cutest of epilogues. Well worth the read if you’re looking for a sweet and short holiday romance!
SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT is a cute sapphic romance novella set in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays. It’s narrated in dual POV, alternating between Evan and Clara’s perspectives.
I adored both Evan and Clara – they’re so well written and relatable. I love the relationship they share as friends, and the love that builds between them. The chemistry they share is palpable with some well-written spicy scenes.
As a special note, Clara’s parents are wonderful human beings, and I absolutely adored them and the love and kindness they share with others. They’re such warm and welcoming people.
Another thing to love is that there’s no third act breakup and this story also features the cutest of epilogues. Well worth the read if you’re looking for a sweet and short holiday romance!
Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala
4.0
It may be Christmas time in Shady Palms, but things are far from jolly for Lila. Her new business, the Brew-Ha café, looks like it will turn a profit in its first year and she has taken the first step in a romance with her good friend Jae. But Lila’s cousin Ronnie is back in town after ghosting her family for fifteen years, claiming that his recent purchase of a local winery indicates he’s back on his feet and ready to contribute to the Shady Palms community. While her Tita Rosie is delighted to have Ronnie back, Lila is wary knowing that trouble always follows Ronnie on his heels. And she’s proven correct when Ronnie is accused of murder leaving Lila to shove aside her years of resentment and distrust to prove her cousin’s innocence.
BLACKMAIL AND BIBINGKA is the third book in a series but can be easily read as a standalone, at least I didn’t have any issues jumping into the series at this stage. This novel is told in the POV of Lila and is set at Christmas time, making it the perfect book to pick up during the holidays if you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery with light holiday vibes!
I adored the Filipino cultural influences that are infused within this story. I thought it was great that the author shared a glossary of common Filipino words and their meaning at the beginning of the book – this was very helpful for those unfamiliar with specific terms! I’d advise against reading on an empty stomach as there are ample descriptions of new recipes based on classic Filipino dishes for the café. The author also includes some recipes at the end – another really cool touch!
Lila, her family, and her friends are all such interesting and well-developed characters. Their relationships are filled with kindness, caring, and support. I really enjoyed the cozy mystery that ensues as Lila seeks to exonerate her cousin Ronnie from the accusations against him. It’s complex and compelling with some slights of hand that I didn’t see coming! I had some suspicions but wasn’t entirely correct in the end.
BLACKMAIL AND BIBINGKA is the third book in a series but can be easily read as a standalone, at least I didn’t have any issues jumping into the series at this stage. This novel is told in the POV of Lila and is set at Christmas time, making it the perfect book to pick up during the holidays if you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery with light holiday vibes!
I adored the Filipino cultural influences that are infused within this story. I thought it was great that the author shared a glossary of common Filipino words and their meaning at the beginning of the book – this was very helpful for those unfamiliar with specific terms! I’d advise against reading on an empty stomach as there are ample descriptions of new recipes based on classic Filipino dishes for the café. The author also includes some recipes at the end – another really cool touch!
Lila, her family, and her friends are all such interesting and well-developed characters. Their relationships are filled with kindness, caring, and support. I really enjoyed the cozy mystery that ensues as Lila seeks to exonerate her cousin Ronnie from the accusations against him. It’s complex and compelling with some slights of hand that I didn’t see coming! I had some suspicions but wasn’t entirely correct in the end.
I Died on a Tuesday by Jane Corry
3.5
3.5/5 stars.
Janie has a bright future in front of her with dreams of working in book publishing in London. She’s on her way home after an early dawn swim in the bay when the peaceful stillness is shattered. A white van careens around the corner where Janie is riding her bike, and her life is forever changed when she is run down and left for dead in the street. Twenty years later, international pop star, Robbie Manning, is arrested for the attempted murder of Janie. Robbie doesn’t deny the accusations because he’s been waiting for the truth to come out for twenty years, and he’s ready for his punishment… but what if there’s more of the story?
I DIED ON A TUESDAY is an interesting read. It’s told in multiple POV: Janie, Vanessa, Robbie, and Judge. Each POV has some involvement in the overarching plot, but it is not always clear how their perspective will influence the narrative. I enjoyed each character’s POV and the insight they shared. There are a lot of characters in this book, and some are very forgettable and without much weight. The main characters are well developed, Vanessa the most so.
The plot is interesting, but I did find that I had trouble really sinking my teeth into it so to speak. There’s a lot going on within each character’s POV and I wasn’t always clear on where the overall trajectory of the story was going. I do think this was, in part, due to the secrets each character was holding and not a criticism of the author’s writing style. The last third of the novel feels very convoluted with the author attempting to cover up all her loose ends. It made my head spin trying to put this all together.
There is one aspect of the plot that’s mentioned in repetition that I didn’t fully understand the impact or need for influence on… I am not sure what the author was trying to suggest here.
Overall, an interesting and for the most part, steadily paced read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Doubleday Canada, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
Janie has a bright future in front of her with dreams of working in book publishing in London. She’s on her way home after an early dawn swim in the bay when the peaceful stillness is shattered. A white van careens around the corner where Janie is riding her bike, and her life is forever changed when she is run down and left for dead in the street. Twenty years later, international pop star, Robbie Manning, is arrested for the attempted murder of Janie. Robbie doesn’t deny the accusations because he’s been waiting for the truth to come out for twenty years, and he’s ready for his punishment… but what if there’s more of the story?
I DIED ON A TUESDAY is an interesting read. It’s told in multiple POV: Janie, Vanessa, Robbie, and Judge. Each POV has some involvement in the overarching plot, but it is not always clear how their perspective will influence the narrative. I enjoyed each character’s POV and the insight they shared. There are a lot of characters in this book, and some are very forgettable and without much weight. The main characters are well developed, Vanessa the most so.
The plot is interesting, but I did find that I had trouble really sinking my teeth into it so to speak. There’s a lot going on within each character’s POV and I wasn’t always clear on where the overall trajectory of the story was going. I do think this was, in part, due to the secrets each character was holding and not a criticism of the author’s writing style. The last third of the novel feels very convoluted with the author attempting to cover up all her loose ends. It made my head spin trying to put this all together.
There is one aspect of the plot that’s mentioned in repetition that I didn’t fully understand the impact or need for influence on… I am not sure what the author was trying to suggest here.
Overall, an interesting and for the most part, steadily paced read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Doubleday Canada, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
The Silent Watcher by Victor Methos
4.5
4.5 stars.
Piper Danes, an attorney walks away from a hotshot law firm to work as a guardian ad litem (GAL). She was once a vulnerable youth who had a GAL (a court appointed representative for vulnerable children or adults) that gave her hope when she needed it most and now, she’s committed to paying it forward. Piper’s first case is 15-year-old Sophie Grace who is the sole survivor of a gruesome family murder. Piper teams up with Judge Hope Dawson and Detective Lazarus Holloway on a hunt for the truth, leading to a serial killer known as “The Creeper”, a predator who hides in the shadows. As the team inches closer to unveiling the killer, they find themselves in the crosshairs and trapped in a web of lies.
THE SILENT WATCHER is my first experience with this author’s work and it certainly won’t be the last. I was gripped within the first few minutes of the story. The prologue piques your interest and leaves you needing more.
This is a gritty and unsettling thriller, and this feeling of uneasiness only amplifies as the story continues. The plot is well-paced and compelling, leaving me itching to return back to the audiobook. I loved the short and propulsive chapters.
I adored the main characters (Piper, Judge Dawson, and Detective Lazarus) that are encountered with their flawed and secretive natures, each is realistic and relatable, though not all are always likable. The character development is well done and I particularly liked Piper whose change in career path has led her to one of a more supportive nature – it also gives a peek into her own person. She’s kind, empathetic, caring, and driven. I’d love to get to know more of her backstory and hope the future installments of this series features her POV.
The ending was quite a surprise and now I am even more eager to see what will come next in this series!
The audiobook narration by Saskia Maarleveld is exceptional. She has such range and is one of my favorite narrators!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Brilliance Publishing, of this advanced listener copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
Piper Danes, an attorney walks away from a hotshot law firm to work as a guardian ad litem (GAL). She was once a vulnerable youth who had a GAL (a court appointed representative for vulnerable children or adults) that gave her hope when she needed it most and now, she’s committed to paying it forward. Piper’s first case is 15-year-old Sophie Grace who is the sole survivor of a gruesome family murder. Piper teams up with Judge Hope Dawson and Detective Lazarus Holloway on a hunt for the truth, leading to a serial killer known as “The Creeper”, a predator who hides in the shadows. As the team inches closer to unveiling the killer, they find themselves in the crosshairs and trapped in a web of lies.
THE SILENT WATCHER is my first experience with this author’s work and it certainly won’t be the last. I was gripped within the first few minutes of the story. The prologue piques your interest and leaves you needing more.
This is a gritty and unsettling thriller, and this feeling of uneasiness only amplifies as the story continues. The plot is well-paced and compelling, leaving me itching to return back to the audiobook. I loved the short and propulsive chapters.
I adored the main characters (Piper, Judge Dawson, and Detective Lazarus) that are encountered with their flawed and secretive natures, each is realistic and relatable, though not all are always likable. The character development is well done and I particularly liked Piper whose change in career path has led her to one of a more supportive nature – it also gives a peek into her own person. She’s kind, empathetic, caring, and driven. I’d love to get to know more of her backstory and hope the future installments of this series features her POV.
The ending was quite a surprise and now I am even more eager to see what will come next in this series!
The audiobook narration by Saskia Maarleveld is exceptional. She has such range and is one of my favorite narrators!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Brilliance Publishing, of this advanced listener copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
Wishing For You by Marissa James
4.5
4.5 stars.
After watching her twin brother, Thatcher, fall in love over the past year, Caroline wants what he has, but every date she’s been on has been a flop. Her friend Mary offers to set her up with her cousin. Caroline doesn’t expect Anders Cunningham, her twin’s best friend and the man she loathes, to be her friend’s cousin. As if the date couldn’t get any worse, Caroline and Anders run into his parents and they think they’re a couple…and before Caroline knows it, she’s agreeing to be his fake girlfriend. The more time she spends with him, the more she realizes that Anders is not the guy she thought he was…and he might be everything she wished for.
I read this author’s Thanksgiving novella Falling for You earlier this fall and have been beyond excited awaiting my chance to read Anders and Caroline’s story after having met them in the previously mentioned novella.
I am a sucker for a fake dating romance so I was already invested from the get go. Caroline and Anders are so sweet, and their romance is swoon worthy!
For a novella ringing in at 130 pages, the pacing is well done. But I will say that I would have absolutely adored having a full-length novel about these characters. I love that WISHING FOR YOU is told in dual POV, alternating between Anders and Caroline’s perspectives, making it easy to connect with both characters. There’s some spicy scenes and they are well placed and well written.
Lastly, Caroline and Anders are characters that are in their mid-30s and I absolutely loved that. It’s so refreshing to see characters in this age range and also much appreciated.
A cute New Year’s Eve novella!
I would like to thank the author, Marissa James, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novella in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
After watching her twin brother, Thatcher, fall in love over the past year, Caroline wants what he has, but every date she’s been on has been a flop. Her friend Mary offers to set her up with her cousin. Caroline doesn’t expect Anders Cunningham, her twin’s best friend and the man she loathes, to be her friend’s cousin. As if the date couldn’t get any worse, Caroline and Anders run into his parents and they think they’re a couple…and before Caroline knows it, she’s agreeing to be his fake girlfriend. The more time she spends with him, the more she realizes that Anders is not the guy she thought he was…and he might be everything she wished for.
I read this author’s Thanksgiving novella Falling for You earlier this fall and have been beyond excited awaiting my chance to read Anders and Caroline’s story after having met them in the previously mentioned novella.
I am a sucker for a fake dating romance so I was already invested from the get go. Caroline and Anders are so sweet, and their romance is swoon worthy!
For a novella ringing in at 130 pages, the pacing is well done. But I will say that I would have absolutely adored having a full-length novel about these characters. I love that WISHING FOR YOU is told in dual POV, alternating between Anders and Caroline’s perspectives, making it easy to connect with both characters. There’s some spicy scenes and they are well placed and well written.
Lastly, Caroline and Anders are characters that are in their mid-30s and I absolutely loved that. It’s so refreshing to see characters in this age range and also much appreciated.
A cute New Year’s Eve novella!
I would like to thank the author, Marissa James, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novella in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
Pumpkin Everything by Beth Labonte
4.0
Amy Fox is a horror novelist left with a broken heart after calling off her fall wedding, leaving her with a case of writer’s block and an aversion to all things pumpkin spice. When she receives news that her grandfather has driven through a Dunkin Donuts and broken his wrist, she knows she must return to her hometown of Autumnboro. She worries about seeing her primary reason for leaving her hometown, Kit Parker, her childhood best friend and first love.
PUMPKIN EVERYTHING is just the cutest little love story. It’s set in Autumnboro, New Hampshire during the fall. The author does a great job weaving in the essence of autumn, making it feel immersive and truly the best season of the year. It reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie’s ode to fall.
The town of Autumnboro is really cute with a great sense of community and support. I enjoyed each character that is encountered, all being lovable in some way. Kit and Amy’s reunion and the relationship that sparks anew between them is so sweet and heartfelt. The romance is clean and chaste apart from a few kisses on page. The ending was simply perfect making for a great cozy, fall-themed second chance romance!
PUMPKIN EVERYTHING is just the cutest little love story. It’s set in Autumnboro, New Hampshire during the fall. The author does a great job weaving in the essence of autumn, making it feel immersive and truly the best season of the year. It reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie’s ode to fall.
The town of Autumnboro is really cute with a great sense of community and support. I enjoyed each character that is encountered, all being lovable in some way. Kit and Amy’s reunion and the relationship that sparks anew between them is so sweet and heartfelt. The romance is clean and chaste apart from a few kisses on page. The ending was simply perfect making for a great cozy, fall-themed second chance romance!
Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry
4.0
Noah is an honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confessed to molesting girls during swim practice. He’s sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile sex rehab center. Adrianne, Noah’s mother, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life, leaving her to draw the line she will go to protect her son.
SAVING NOAH is the second novel I’ve read by Lucinda Berry. And honestly, her books are not for the faint of heart. Checking the trigger warnings are a must. The audiobook narration is excellently done.
SAVING NOAH is a dark, disturbing, and heavy read. It’s told in the POV of Adrianne, Noah’s mother. Berry’s writing style is crisp, engaging, and thoroughly thought-provoking as she carefully brings you through specific moral dilemmas. Each of the characters and their emotions are raw, genuine, and realistic. The plot is dark and twisted, making you rethink every thought you had going into the novel. I am heartbroken and shocked by the ending.
Definitely a read that leaves you in a state of shock and contemplation.
SAVING NOAH is the second novel I’ve read by Lucinda Berry. And honestly, her books are not for the faint of heart. Checking the trigger warnings are a must. The audiobook narration is excellently done.
SAVING NOAH is a dark, disturbing, and heavy read. It’s told in the POV of Adrianne, Noah’s mother. Berry’s writing style is crisp, engaging, and thoroughly thought-provoking as she carefully brings you through specific moral dilemmas. Each of the characters and their emotions are raw, genuine, and realistic. The plot is dark and twisted, making you rethink every thought you had going into the novel. I am heartbroken and shocked by the ending.
Definitely a read that leaves you in a state of shock and contemplation.
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
3.0
Julia Power is a nurse in an understaffed hospital where expectant mothers have come down with the terrible and devastating new Flu and are quarantined together in the city center of Dublin, Ireland. Julia’s world is carefully regimented when two outsiders: Doctor Lynn, a rumored Rebel, and Bridie, a young volunteer join her in this tiny ward. Over the course of a few days, these women change each other’s lives in unexpected ways as they fight to save patients during this pandemic.
THE PULL OF THE STARS is a novel set in Dublin, Ireland in 1918 during the Great Influenza Pandemic. It’s told in the POV of a bedside nurse, Julia Powers, who works in an understaffed hospital on a ward for expectant mothers.
It’s a gritty and raw story that is heavy with emotion and turmoil. It’s also a story that is hard not to compare with our recent collective history.
Julia is a character with loads of strength, courage, and heart. I loved reading the story in her perspective and seeing the care and compassion she exudes even in the hardest of times. Bridie is a character I wholly appreciated as well, diving into an unknown world as a volunteer and doing her best to be as helpful as she can. I adored the relationship that forms between Bridie and Julia, notably the care and compassion they share towards one another as well, supporting each other in such a terrifying and difficult time.
I listened to this as an audiobook – the narration is well done. I enjoyed this book overall but did find the pacing to be slow, winding and a bit too monotonous, preventing me from truly loving it.
THE PULL OF THE STARS is a novel set in Dublin, Ireland in 1918 during the Great Influenza Pandemic. It’s told in the POV of a bedside nurse, Julia Powers, who works in an understaffed hospital on a ward for expectant mothers.
It’s a gritty and raw story that is heavy with emotion and turmoil. It’s also a story that is hard not to compare with our recent collective history.
Julia is a character with loads of strength, courage, and heart. I loved reading the story in her perspective and seeing the care and compassion she exudes even in the hardest of times. Bridie is a character I wholly appreciated as well, diving into an unknown world as a volunteer and doing her best to be as helpful as she can. I adored the relationship that forms between Bridie and Julia, notably the care and compassion they share towards one another as well, supporting each other in such a terrifying and difficult time.
I listened to this as an audiobook – the narration is well done. I enjoyed this book overall but did find the pacing to be slow, winding and a bit too monotonous, preventing me from truly loving it.
Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly
4.0
Detective Renée Ballard is working the night shift again and returns to the Hollywood Station in the early morning to find a stranger rifling through old file cabinets. The stranger turns out to be retired detective Harry Bosch, who is working a cold case that has gotten under his skin — the death of a 15-year-old runaway who was murdered and left in a dumpster. Ballard initially kicks him out before looking up the case herself and feels a deep tug of empathy and anger. Together they team up to find out what really happened to the young girl and bring her killer to justice.
DARK SACRED NIGHT is the second book in the Renée Ballard series, set within the Harry Bosch Universe. I haven’t read a book where Harry Bosch is a character before, but I loved meeting him in this book. I really enjoyed seeing how Bosch and Ballard collaborated very well together to get to the bottom of an old cold case. I’m hopeful that future books will continue to feature their team dynamic.
DARK SACRED NIGHT is told in dual POV, alternating between Bosch and Ballard’s perspectives which I thought was a nice touch. The plot is well paced and gripping with interesting and complex cases. It’s got a nice dose of suspense and action, highlighting a detective’s typical day, working multiple cases at once. I’m really enjoying Ballard as a main character and am intrigued to see what the next book in the series will bring for her.
DARK SACRED NIGHT is the second book in the Renée Ballard series, set within the Harry Bosch Universe. I haven’t read a book where Harry Bosch is a character before, but I loved meeting him in this book. I really enjoyed seeing how Bosch and Ballard collaborated very well together to get to the bottom of an old cold case. I’m hopeful that future books will continue to feature their team dynamic.
DARK SACRED NIGHT is told in dual POV, alternating between Bosch and Ballard’s perspectives which I thought was a nice touch. The plot is well paced and gripping with interesting and complex cases. It’s got a nice dose of suspense and action, highlighting a detective’s typical day, working multiple cases at once. I’m really enjoying Ballard as a main character and am intrigued to see what the next book in the series will bring for her.
The Late Show by Michael Connelly
4.0
Young detective Renée Ballard works the night shift at the LAPD in Hollywood where she begins many investigations but gets to finish none, having to hand off her cases to the day shift detectives. She was put on the night shift as a punishment for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor. One night she catches two cases she doesn’t want to give up – one a brutal beating of a prostitute and the second, a nightclub shooting resulting in a dead young woman. Against orders and her partner’s wishes, Ballard keeps working both cases by day while maintains her night shift schedule at night, digging up new leads that pull her closer to her own demons.
I saw THE LATE SHOW was available on Libby and snagged it up, later discovering it to be a book that’s been on my Goodreads TBR since 2017 – I’ll call that a win!
I’ve never read anything by Michael Connelly so I enjoyed this first dive into his work. I loved getting to know Detective Renée Ballard through these pages. Her story is set within the Harry Bosch Universe, a large and popular Connelly series. Ballard is a strong-willed, courageous, and talented detective who is determined to get to the bottom of each case even when she’s supposed to have handed it off. I really enjoyed her narration and am excited to see how her character arc will progress in the rest of the series.
I love police procedural with a sort of ‘underdog’ character – in this case, Ballard is a woman in a man’s game, trying to work her way up the LAPD structure and show her worth. There’s some interesting office politics and I love how Ballard handles it with class.
I really enjoyed the plot of this novel with two tragic cases that have seemingly no connection. It’s a gripping read with a great pacing and a tense narrative. It was interesting to see Detective Ballard find, and carefully, put the pieces together. I adored the ending with a reveal that was an excellent sleight of hand – so crafty!
I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series!
I saw THE LATE SHOW was available on Libby and snagged it up, later discovering it to be a book that’s been on my Goodreads TBR since 2017 – I’ll call that a win!
I’ve never read anything by Michael Connelly so I enjoyed this first dive into his work. I loved getting to know Detective Renée Ballard through these pages. Her story is set within the Harry Bosch Universe, a large and popular Connelly series. Ballard is a strong-willed, courageous, and talented detective who is determined to get to the bottom of each case even when she’s supposed to have handed it off. I really enjoyed her narration and am excited to see how her character arc will progress in the rest of the series.
I love police procedural with a sort of ‘underdog’ character – in this case, Ballard is a woman in a man’s game, trying to work her way up the LAPD structure and show her worth. There’s some interesting office politics and I love how Ballard handles it with class.
I really enjoyed the plot of this novel with two tragic cases that have seemingly no connection. It’s a gripping read with a great pacing and a tense narrative. It was interesting to see Detective Ballard find, and carefully, put the pieces together. I adored the ending with a reveal that was an excellent sleight of hand – so crafty!
I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series!