nebulous07's reviews
297 reviews

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

Jaw-Dropping, Tense and Terrifying are my top three words to describe Dark Mode. This book had me on edge throughout, which doesn't do wonders for anxiety. It follows the story of Reagan, whose haunted by her past and lives life off the grid. The consequences of her choices result in her business almost failing and little to no social connections. Things look up once she meets Bryce, who is proving to be an exception to her chronic doubt and reservations. Bryce slowly becomes her anchor as the murder of three women occurs, identical to the unsolved case of the Black Dahlia. Without giving too much away, Ashley Kalagian Blunt delivers a well-researched, immersive read with shocking twists and turns which make you wonder how well you truly know people. The psyche of human nature is briefly tapped and delivers a jaw-dropping ending.
I look forward to reading more of the author's work. 

Thank you, NetGalley & Ultimo Press, for allowing me to read the ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily. 

Crushing by Genevieve Novak

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• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Crushing will hit you in the feels, and simply put is... crushing. 

Genevieve Novak sprinkles magic and realism in the new mundane, particularly in dealing with your 20s. The writing is impeccably doused with wit, pop culture references, deep-rooted insights, and wisdom. It definitely gave me Fleabag Down Under (20s edition) vibes. 

Marnie is one character that I have connected with on multiple levels. Her metamorphosis is immensely painful as she navigates failed relationships, tense family dynamics, a rollercoaster friendship and a mysterious magical connection. The anger, hurt, rage, abandonment and codependency were real and raw. Multiple times, I teared up and was tempted to throw my phone as Marnie made some questionable decisions. This book beautifully tackles the overemphasis of romantic love and its connection with being enough, a celebration of platonic friendships and the beauty of human connection. The ending though gut-wrenching was refreshing. I will be keeping an eye out for Genevieve Novak's future work. 

Thank you, NetGalley & HarperCollins AU, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

The Edge of Life: Love and Survival During the Apocalypse by Lena Gibson

adventurous emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

The Edge of Life is Lena Gibson's debut novel. WHAT? 
If I have to keep this simple, this book is refreshing and a delight! I have never encountered romance entwined with an apocalyptic theme (yes, I have been under a rock when it comes to romance, don't judge me!). The pacing was well executed, and Ryan and Kat are off to a tense start. Through their immeasurably built walls due to family dynamics and relationships, they open the windows to romance, letting in intense passion, revelling in banter and compatibility and working together, navigating challenges that are out of their control. The stakes were well-built throughout the book, and I was rooting for them. The balance between character development and an intense, uphill plot was well executed. The ending was well deserved. I will be keeping my tbr telescope close for Lena's future books. 

Thank you, Netgalley & Black Rose Writing, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily. 

Trail of Deception by Amanda McKinney

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Trail of Deception by Amanda McKinney is the second book in the On the Edge series. It can be read as a standalone with sufficient detail to understand the protagonists and supporting characters further. Leave it to the author to create a fast-paced, fleshed-out plot with beautiful characters. Jo, the main protagonist, is a mix of fiery, passionate, and complex and is plagued by scattered childhood memories. This character was well-developed, and her evolution was realistic, and I couldn't help but cheer for her. Beckett is book boyfriend material; he is strong, driven, ambitious and doesn't play games. Amanda's ability to create memorable banter, sizzling chemistry, and beautiful yet poignant memories of trust and vulnerability made this one of my top romantic suspense reads. The element of suspense and a tense atmosphere lingers throughout the pages, and I devoured this book in one sitting. I loved the theme of the ending that focussed on a new beginning and empowerment. I can't wait to read more of the author's work. 

Thank you, NetGalley & Montlake, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily. 

Deadly Tides by Mary Keliikoa

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

It was a no-brainer for me to pick up Deadly Tides after loving the first book of the Misty Pines Series. Sheriff Jax Turner and Abby are back, and boy, what a thrilling ride it was! Mary Kelikoa is a talented writer who shines with the level of detail presented in both the cases of Jax and Abby and creates realistic character development. It was heartwarming to read about Jax's and Abby's journeys at what seemed to be parallel lines but slowly came together as they navigated multiple personal and professional situations. The real MVPs in terms of supporting characters are Trudy and Koa! The book's pacing is well done, with pertinent details that compelled me to turn the pages. Did I know the murderer halfway through the book? Sure. But the author's execution, coupled with a few twists and turns, was something I couldn't predict! I can't wait for the next book and will keep an eye out for the author's work. This book will appeal to fans of police procedural, suspense, thriller and small-town secrets. 

Thank you, NetGalley & Level Best Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily. 

The Lost Wife by Georgina Lees

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Lost Wife by Georgina Lees is a disorientating, gripping, twisted psychological thriller. This book oscillates between past and present events that will keep the reader on their toes. This approach compliments the high-stakes, tense unfolding of events between Harry & Lea. Obsession, deceit, and secrets shock this relationship, with Lea determined to seek answers on Harry's questionable conduct and behaviour. This results in Lea going down a rabbit hole that will question her relationship, morals, and choices. When you think you have connected the dots, Georgina Lees delivers a shocking ending that I couldn't have predicted. Do not skip this one for fans of psychological thrillers, suspense, and domestic thrillers. 

Thank you, NetGalley & HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

Even When You Lie by Michelle Cruz

challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

Michelle Cruz's "Even When You Lie" is an excellent debut novel. I devoured this book in three days and found it extremely difficult to keep it away. The element of suspense wraps around you from the get-go, and the pacing of this novel is incredible. Cade and Reagan are lovely, solid and capable protagonists whose passion, strength and partnership shine throughout the book. What made me love them so much is their dynamic of establishing a relationship on trust and shared values. Their unfailing loyalty and having each other's backs while deciphering their deceptive legal world were immersive, tense and memorable. They bring out the best in each other and lean on each other to uncover the truth. The ending was something I couldn't predict, and all the loose ends slowly came together beautifully. A 5-star read! I can't wait to read more of Michelle's work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Robert Dugoni's "Her Deadly Game" is brilliant, engaging and thrilling. Keera Duggan is in recovery mode after a failed relationship that compromised her professional career as a prosecutor. Her only way out is returning to her family and working in her family's legal business. However, this solution comes with strings attached to looming and strained family issues with themes of addiction. Keera is cut from the same cloth as her father, the legendary Patrick "The Irish Brawler" Duggan and is out to prove herself as a worthy lawyer. The only thing is that Anne La Russa's case is a criminal one, her first time as a defence lawyer. The stakes have never been higher. 

I loved and devoured this book for a couple of reasons. First, the plot was intriguing, and the pacing was fantastic. Robert is a highly skilled storyteller who lures you in from page one. The time jumps flow seamlessly, and the sub-plots relating to chess and the crossroads of decision-making from our secondary characters are beautifully presented and delivered. Multiple characters serve a purpose and complement the plot well. If you're a fan of the law, suspense, crime, court cases and thriller, do NOT skip this book. This is not my last book by this author! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

Knot Guilty by Jo Chambliss

adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Knot Guilty by Jo Chambliss is an engaging and fast-paced read. The author has done a great job creating a high-stakes plot centred around secrets, alliances and betrayal. The supporting characters complement the protagonist (Sadie) and the key players (Maxen, Aaron and Knox). However, the love/lust element for me was way too predictable, and I deciphered the bad guy almost halfway. Without giving too much away, the red flags were way too obvious, and the slow-burn romance between the protagonist and an essential character was sudden and left me wanting more. Sadie's past and trauma are fleshed out well even though, at times, her decisions and rationale appear to be naive. With that being said, this is an excellent start to the Knot PMC series, and I look forward to reading more work from this author. 

Do not skip this one if you love romantic suspense, action-packed premises and an entertaining read to finish in one day. Thank you, NetGalley & Hover Press, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

The Guilty One by Bill Schweigart

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

The Guilty One is a suspenseful, page-turning and thrilling read. The sparring between past and present events kept me on my toes. Detective Cal Farrell is dealing with an unfavourable deck of cards of what truly happened when he was one of the responders to an ill-fated mass shooting. He's enveloped in a thick blanket of an identity crisis, testing his work relationships. Bill Schweigart has made it to my list of memorable suspense and thriller writers who sets the scene with sarcastic humour, pseudonymous murder theories, tension and wonderfully crafted puzzle pieces. Cal Farell is a protagonist that grows on you with relatable struggles in mental health and an unfailing will to decipher the truth. Add a dash of secret pining and awkwardness; this goofball of a character had me cheering for him. In terms of the killer, gravity lured my jaw into dropping and staying there for a while. The crescendo was well executed, full of action, uncertainly and acceptance. I'd love for Cal Farell to have a series, and I'm already volunteering as a reading tribute. A 5-star read! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.