phantomparagrapher7's reviews
112 reviews

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

 Molly Gray is back for one last mystery at the Regency Grand Hotel, and what a final adventure it is! In The Maid's Secret , Nita Prose delivers another delightful, heartwarming, and intricately woven story featuring the lovable yet complex Molly the Maid. This installment brings together elements of family secrets, hidden pasts, and a thrilling mystery that keeps readers engaged until the very last page. 

Molly has now risen through the ranks to become the esteemed Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel, a role she takes immense pride in. Her meticulous nature and deep-rooted love for cleaning—instilled in her by her beloved Gran—make her a perfect fit for maintaining the hotel's pristine reputation. But when a theft threatens to tarnish the hotel's image, Molly finds herself entangled in yet another puzzle that demands her unique perspective. 

What sets this novel apart is its deep dive into Molly’s personal history. While she’s busy solving the present-day mystery, she stumbles upon an even more intriguing enigma—secrets hidden within her Gran’s diary. The diary reveals a past she never could have imagined, raising questions about why her Gran cut ties with certain people and kept these truths from her. As Molly untangles these revelations, readers are taken on a dual-timeline journey that beautifully explores the impact of family secrets and self-discovery. 

One of the reasons I felt a strong connection to this series is because of Molly’s character. As someone on the spectrum, she approaches the world in a way that feels both authentic and refreshing. Her literal interpretations, her struggle with social nuances, and her deep love for structure make her an incredibly relatable protagonist. Nita Prose does a brilliant job portraying Molly’s unique perspective with warmth and respect, making her one of the most memorable and endearing characters in contemporary fiction. 

This book also brought back memories of my mum and her love for Antiques Roadshow. The themes of uncovering hidden histories, the appreciation for things long forgotten, and the excitement of revealing truths all resonated deeply. However, it also brought a bittersweet feeling—knowing this is the last installment in the Molly the Maid series. Saying goodbye to a character I’ve felt so at home with is never easy, but I’m grateful for the journey. 

Reading The Maid's Secret was another reminder of why I love being a book reviewer—getting the chance to experience incredible stories before they hit the shelves. With its April release date, readers still have time to anticipate this final chapter in Molly’s story, and I can confidently say that it’s a mystery worth unraveling.
 

A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

 Monica Murphy delivers another swoon-worthy romance in the Lancaster Prep series with A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime. This time, we follow Wren Beaumont and Crew Lancaster in a tale of opposites attracting, slow-burning obsession, and undeniable chemistry. Fans of the series will recognize Crew as Whit’s younger cousin, bringing a new dynamic to the elite world of Lancaster Prep. 

Wren Beaumont is everything a proper Lancaster Prep girl should be—beautiful, intelligent, and sweet. She exudes an innocence that makes her a beacon among her peers, admired by many and envied by some. But while others put her on a pedestal, Crew Lancaster sees past her perfect exterior. To him, she’s repressed, emotionally locked up, and in need of someone to break down her walls. At first glance, Wren is the last girl Crew would ever be drawn to, yet when they’re forced to work together in class, a different kind of tension builds between them. What begins as reluctance morphs into fascination, and before long, Crew is utterly obsessed. He wants Wren to fall for him—no matter what it takes. Their dynamic brims with tension and passion, making each interaction electric. 

One of the standout elements of A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime is its inspiration from a famous painting, which is woven beautifully into the story. The artistic symbolism adds depth to Wren and Crew’s relationship, reinforcing themes of love, devotion, and vulnerability. 

For fans of Lancaster Prep, this book is a must-read, and the excitement doesn’t end here—Murphy has gifted us with Birthday Kisses, Book 2.5, which continues Wren and Crew’s love story. I, for one, can’t wait to dive into their next chapter! 

If you’re a fan of elite school romances filled with obsession, tension, and a touch of artistic inspiration, A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime is the perfect addition to your reading list. Highly recommended for fans of angsty yet deeply emotional love stories! 

After All I've Done by Mina Hardy

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.0

Writing as Mina Hardy, New York Times bestselling author Megan Hart delivers a gripping psychological thriller that will have readers questioning everything they think they know. 

Diana Sparrow’s life has been turned upside down. Five months ago, she suffered a terrible accident, leaving her with serious injuries and a foggy memory of the months leading up to the crash. But as she struggles to regain a sense of normalcy, disturbing nightmares begin to plague her—dreams so vivid that she starts to believe they may be memories. What if she didn’t simply lose control of her car that night? What if she hit something—or someone? 

With no one to confide in, Diana finds herself increasingly isolated. Her former best friend Val, who should have been a source of support, has been having an affair with Diana’s husband Jonathan. The betrayal cuts deep, leaving Diana vulnerable and searching for solace elsewhere. Enter Cole Pelham, a newcomer who provides an unexpected comfort. Yet, as Diana draws closer to him, the pieces of her fragmented memory start to fit together in ways she never expected—leading her to question his role in the events of that fateful night. As she digs deeper, she realizes that nearly everyone in her life may be entangled in the web of secrets surrounding her. 

Mina Hardy masterfully builds suspense, keeping the reader engaged as Diana’s paranoia grows. The novel expertly plays with unreliable narration, making it impossible to know whether Diana’s fears are valid or a product of her damaged mind. Every interaction is laced with tension, every character a potential suspect, and every revelation more unsettling than the last. The themes in this book—amnesia, dark family secrets, adoption, and even incest—add a chilling layer to the story, making it a disturbing yet impossible-to-put-down read. 

If you love books filled with twists, betrayals, and shocking secrets, this one deserves a place on your shelf.
 

Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.75

 Jennifer Hartmann delivers an emotionally charged and deeply moving story in Catch the Sun, a novel that seamlessly blends elements of young adult and new adult fiction. With a poignant exploration of love, grief, and resilience, this book is a must-read for fans of intense, heart-wrenching narratives. 

At its core, Catch the Sun follows Ella Sunbury and Max Manning, childhood best friends who were once inseparable. However, circumstances forced Ella to leave town abruptly, and a decade later, she returns for their senior year of high school. But time has changed them both—Ella now carries the weight of her brother’s notoriety, a felon on death row whose crime left an indelible stain on her reputation. Meanwhile, Max shoulders the responsibilities of caring for his disabled father while dealing with a distant twin brother. Despite the barriers life has placed between them, their bond rekindles, sparking a tender yet fragile romance. 

This isn’t just a love story; it’s a book  that tackles complex themes such as familial trauma, societal judgment, and personal redemption. The book does not shy away from darker topics, including death and the lingering impact of crime on loved ones. Readers who are emotionally sensitive should prepare themselves for an intense journey—tissues may be necessary. 

A particularly delightful touch is the infusion of Winnie the Pooh references, adding a nostalgic and heartwarming contrast to the heavier themes of the book. These moments of lightness provide a much-needed balance, making the characters feel even more real and relatable. 

For those who enjoy stories that straddle the line between edgy teen fiction and new adult romance, Catch the Sun is a perfect choice. It’s a novel that not only tugs at the heartstrings but also lingers in the mind long after the final page. 

Catch the Sun is a compelling, emotionally gripping read that will resonate deeply with fans of character-driven, poignant storytelling. Highly recommended for those who love a mix of romance, heartbreak, and healing. 

Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

 I don't know about you, but I find chunky books very intimidating especially seeing as I love to be a one-sitting reader, this is why I keep them for bus rides to Auckland or as holiday reads as I know I can then give them my full attention. Book #2 of the Boys of Tommen Series is a chunky book at just over 800 pages and so I chose this book for my bus ride on Wednesday last week to Auckland as I was going up to see Vengaboys in concert. I enjoyed the first book and I have to admit for a chunky read, the book does move at quite a swift pace. This book picks up from the first where at the end we read that Shannon is being beaten by her Dad once again, this time he has gone too far and Shannon ends up almost dead.  Her mother snaps as the police get involved due to Johnny doing something about things. Now Shannon's Dad has gone on the run, her older brother Darren is back and Joey is neither here nor there. This though feels like a prison for Shannon as her brother Darren is just as controlling as their dad was but just in another way. She wants to be free to live her life and be normal with her friends and boyfriend Johnny. The second half of the book ends with Johnny introducing Shannon's four brothers Joey, Tadhg, Ollie, and Sean to his parents and of course, his mum and dad fall in love with all of them. Just as life starts to feel normal, Shannon's dad comes back and this time it is up to Shannon and Johnny to save her brothers as they know they can't keep living like this. Tragedy does occur but I just loved the Kavanaugh family and how they stepped up to the plate to help and just be there for the Lynch family. Johnny's love has always been Rugby and when he gets into the U20 team, he becomes a star but will Johnny and Shannon be able to do their relationship long distance and will they be able to handle his newfound fame amongst the ladies? I also loved the Epilogue of the new school year where both Tadhg and Joey start at Tommen as they are the "new hotties" but both with attitude and spunk.  I am now excited to read the third book which is going to be Joey and Aoife's story - Saving 6. This series is not one for the faint-hearted and if you loved Rebecca Donovan’s series Reason to Breathe and Torey Hayden and Cathy Glass’s non-fiction reads you will enjoy Chloe Walsh’s Boys of Tommen Series. 

The Second Wife by Miranda Rijks

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

 

Mia was on her way to becoming a successful classical violinist until a family issue caused her career to derail and she ended up with a stint in prison. She needed a job and so she got one cleaning for musician Robin Featherstone. The two got close as Mia spoke Robin's language - the art of music. His second wife Tamsin though gets jealous after she overhears Robin talking about personal issues with Mia like their Will. She's not a gold digger, but she deserves something and she fears that he is drifting away from her. So she fires Mia behind Robin's back. During this time, Robin then has a stroke and eventually dies. Mia is also shortly after being fired, given a job as a violinist in a band on tour - this is what she always dreamed of, professionally playing her Violin. One night she gets a call, Robin has died and he has left his entire estate to her. Mia is shocked and as soon as she meets the family, she realizes this is too good to be true as the family are not only contesting the will but they are also trying to frame her for Robin's death as it turns out he was murdered. As they pull apart Mia's past to make her look guilty, can she work her case and discover who killed Robin which member of his family wanted him dead, and who stood to inherit the most if she is also out of the picture? Find out in Miranda Rijk's thriller The Second Wife. If you love UK thrillers, then you will love Miranda's books as she is one of my favourites to read. 

Things I Wanted To Say (but never did) by Monica Murphy

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

 

You know how we all have those books that are chunky and we look at them and they feel intimidating, but then once we do get to them, we are like what took us so long to read this and why did I wait as the book turns out amazing? That was the first book in the Lancaster Prep series for me. I knew it would be good as I do love Monica Murphy's books and seeing as I had the whole series, she is the author I am going to target and try to read for 2025. In this book, we have our female character Summer Savage, and our male character Whit Lancaster. Summer's mother had an affair with Whit's dad and was part of the reason his parents got a divorce then a fire happened and Summer's stepbrother Yates and stepfather Jonas died. After this Summer was transferred to Lancaster Prep as a favour from Whit's dad. At first, this book is a bullymance between Whit and Summer, but soon we can see that the pair have this love/hate romance going on and so they start sleeping together in secret as their being together could have repercussions for the Lancaster family. Summer is also good friends with Sylvie Lancaster, but of course, she ends up being just as much a bitch as their mother -her namesake. She was the character I hated the most in this book as talk about a spoilt brat who wanted to be the center of attention. When Summer is blackmailed, she leaves the Lancaster family behind to start her own life but of course, Whit wants his HEA and that means doing whatever he can to track down his Summer. Will Summer and Whit get an HEA or will she make it clear that the Lancaster name is toxic and she wants nothing to do with them and would rather protect her heart than get it hurt once again?  Find out in this awesome YA/NA crossover edgy high school fiction - Book #1 in the Lancaster Prep series. A series that once you begin reading, you will want to read the entirety of the Lancaster Prep series and fall deep down the Lancaster Rabbit Hole. 

Seven Minutes Later: An absolutely gripping thriller with a twist by Bonnie Kistler

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

 

As I started reading this book, it sounded familiar and the character's name Shay Lambert was burned in my memory bank that's when I did some book research and discovered it had also been titled The Cage and I had tried to read it in September 2022, but at the time I couldn't push through and it ended up being a DNF. This time, I did manage to finish it but I did see why at the time, I had rated it DNF as it was a slow-paced story and did end up going off in tangents and strange directions. The book starts with two women in an elevator and the lights go out and the elevator stops. Seven Minutes later, the lights come on and the elevator doors open. Everyone gasps as one of the women is dead with her brains blown out. Shay tells the police how Claudine had a panic attack and took the gun out of her bag and they wrestled with the gun when it went off and killed Claudine. This is the story that Shay Lambert is sticking with. We later discover that Shay worked in the legal department Claudine was the CEO and Shay had uncovered evidence of human trafficking and murder within the organization and was about to whistleblow about it. Of course, if this information got out, a lot of people would be affected - so the company is covering their asses by setting Shay up for murder and pulling out all their stops including about her past and how she lied on her CV and was in prison for fraud.  This was a good locked room trope thriller, which is one of my favorite tropes but in saying that - only read if you don't mind your thrillers complicated and on the slower side as at times, I did get a little confused with the various storylines and how the characters all interconnected with one another and a small tip to the wise - remember to check different publishing names as you could be reading a book that you had already read or tried another time and not even be aware. 

Her Perfect Secret by T.J. Brearton

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

 

Emily and her husband Paul are off on their annual holiday to the Lake House and this time their daughter Joni is bringing a surprise guest, her fiance Michael. When they arrive, Emily is stunned as Michael reminds her of a former patient that she had over ten years ago. Emily helped the police on a murder case of a husband and the only witnesses were the wife Laura and the son Tom. The police were convinced that Laura had murdered her husband and that Tom was the only one who could tell the truth about what had happened that night. Emily's job was to coax the truth about what happened from Tom and report to the police, it was Tom's confessions about that night that put Laura in prison. Now years later, she is faced with a Tom lookalike and also Laura is getting out of prison. Why is her past coming back to haunt her? Is Michael Tom and what is his agenda? As Emily heads back home for the night to try and find out the truth, she is soon faced with a lot of dark secrets from that time including ones that she had tried to hide as we discover Emily and Paul knew Tom's parents very well and they used to hang out at parties together and there were rumors of affairs between Paul and Laura. As the walls that Emily has built start to crumble and her children and self end up in danger, can she get to the bottom of the truth and will she come clean about the secret of what happened that fateful night years ago? The night that Laura's husband died and Laura was convicted? Find out in TJ Brearton's Her Perfect Secret, with a twist I did not see coming at the end. If you love good thrillers with an amazing striking cover then Her Perfect Secret by TJ Brearton is the thriller for you. 

No Son of Mine: The BRAND NEW shocking, twisty psychological thriller from C. L. Swatman for 2024 by C.L. Swatman

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

 In No Son of Mine, CL Swatman crafts a compelling tale of family, guilt, and the haunting question: is evil born, or does it evolve over time? Set against the backdrop of the UK, this gripping psychological drama pulls readers into the life of Alex, a mother struggling to navigate the chaos in her family.
 
 The story begins with Alex’s teenage son, Milo, teetering on the edge of suspension from school. Despite her best efforts to reach him, Alex feels her influence slipping away. Her worry intensifies when she stumbles across an online article about Samuel, a young man on trial for the murder of his adoptive father. The twist? Samuel is the son Alex gave up for adoption as a teenage mother.
 
 What follows is a riveting exploration of Alex’s guilt and her quest for answers. Feeling like the common denominator in her family’s struggles, Alex reaches out to Samuel. Their reunion is tense but layered with a deep need for connection. Alex’s unwavering belief in Samuel’s innocence leads her to support him during the trial, and when he is acquitted, she invites him into her home.
 
 Just as readers begin to hope for redemption and healing, Alex discovers the murder weapon in her own shed. This shocking revelation turns the narrative on its head. Could Samuel be the killer despite his acquittal? Or is someone even closer to Alex responsible for the crime? Milo’s troubling behavior adds another layer of complexity—could he be involved, or is he hiding a dark secret to protect someone else?
 
 The book forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about nature versus nurture, familial bonds, and the weight of generational trauma.
 
 If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you on edge and leave you pondering long after the last page, No Son of Mine delivers in spades.