The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond

Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact, and most of its rules make sense: Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .

Never mention The Pact to anyone.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples–and then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life, and The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.

Review

Alice and Jake had a chance an encounter with a stranger. On whim, they invited the stranger to their wedding and after a whirlwind of events; the newlyweds find themselves in a cultic organization known as The Pact.

The Marriage Pact begins on a fast pace with Alice and Jake being introduced to The Pact. I was curious about this organization and this got me turning pages trying to figure out what would happen to the couple. There are a number of twisted, suspenseful events that take place throughout the book. This is what made this quite a thrilling read. I couldn’t figure out where it was going. I couldn’t tell whether or not the couple would survive their experience with the organization.

The entire premise of the story is quite intriguing. However, you really need to suspend disbelief to enjoy it. There are a couple of incidents that didn’t sound plausible. For instance, the couple got into The Pact quite fast. They signed contracts and just got involved without much thought. This was a bit odd because Alice is a lawyer and Jake, a therapist. They don’t really seem like the kind of people who would do something like that. There are also certain scenes that made me wonder where the neighbors were lol. However, this doesn’t mean that the story was any less entertaining.

The Marriage Pact is quite an enjoyable, addictive read. I wasn’t too crazy about the ending but it was perfect for the story. The book had a disturbing, creepy vibe which heightened the tension all the way to the last page. I also really liked the entire cult-like angle of the The Pact. Do I recommend this book? Yes I do. Friend, you need to read this one.

The Place We Met by Isabelle Broom

Lucy may have suffered her fair share of bad men, but now she has Pete. Finally, a man worth sharing her favourite place with, Lake Como. That’s if she can put mysterious phone calls and glamorous ex-girlfriends out of her mind.

Taggie is rushed off her feet, but distraction is exactly what she needs to forget why she fled England and the sadness she left behind. She certainly doesn’t have time for infuriating stranger Marco. A man is the last thing she needs right now.

Lucy and Taggie might not know it, but their lives are about to collide. The New Year might begin with fireworks – but how will it end?

 

Review

I was looking for something different to read when I decided to get this book. One thing that definitely stood out was the setting. Lake Como is in northern Italy. It is the type of beautiful, dramatic setting that is usually perfect for books with themes of romance. Isabelle Broom ensured that Lake Como was a key feature in the story. Her vivid descriptions of the setting made me wish that I could visit the place. Lake Como definitely made the story even more intense.

This story is narrated through two POVs. Taggie and Lucy are two women who both end up at Lake Como for different reasons. At first, the two stories run concurrently until they eventually merged. I kept trying to guess how the two were connected and was only able to accurately do so just before the reveal.

Although this book can be described as romance, it has suspense. I couldn’t have guessed the twists. There were also hints of secrets from the first page and so I found myself eagerly turning pages trying to figure out what the characters were hiding. Surprisingly, this book was also a bit emotional.

The Place We Met by Isabelle Broom is a wonderful story. It is set around Christmas and New Year and so I think that it is a perfect read for this season especially for readers who enjoy this genre.

PS: This is my final post for 2017. Happy holidays to you all and thank you for being part of my year. I look forward to seeing you again in 2018 ❤

The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne

The Marsh King’s Daughter is the mesmerizing tale of a woman who must risk everything to hunt down the dangerous man who shaped her past and threatens to steal her future: her father.

Helena Pelletier has a loving husband, two beautiful daughters, and a business that fills her days. But she also has a secret: she is the product of an abduction. Her mother was kidnapped as a teenager by her father and kept in a remote cabin in the marshlands of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Helena, born two years after the abduction, loved her home in nature, and despite her father’s sometimes brutal behavior, she loved him, too…until she learned precisely how savage he could be.

More than twenty years later, she has buried her past so soundly that even her husband doesn’t know the truth. But now her father has killed two guards, escaped from prison, and disappeared into the marsh. The police begin a manhunt, but Helena knows they don’t stand a chance. Knows that only one person has the skills to find the survivalist the world calls the Marsh King—because only one person was ever trained by him: his daughter.

Review

I wanted to read this book from first moment that I saw it on NetGalley. The story-line sounded quite intriguing. It took me quite a while but thanks to an Angel, I finally got my hands on a copy of the book.

The story begins with Helena discovering that her father has escaped from prison. Known as the Marsh King, her father is a notorious criminal who years ago abducted Helena’s mother and held her in captivity for over a decade. Through Helena’s narration, readers get to find out just how dark and twisted The Marsh King was. He was a cruel man with psychotic tendencies. Knowing his background heightened the tension in the book as it became apparent the kind of danger he posed to everyone while on the run.

One thing that I didn’t expect when I started reading the book is the narrative style. The narrator is Helena and for most of the story, readers are stuck in her mind. The past is narrated through recollections of her childhood. The present is also narrated by the MC. In a way, I kinda felt like the entire story was taking place in her mind. This is not a complaint though. The narrative style does work for this book.

I liked the characterization in this book. Helena definitely was an intriguing MC. I was fascinated by her childhood and how it impacted on her character. I wish there was more about her mum though. Understandably though, this is the daughter’s story and the book is not titled Marsh King’s wife so I get it but I was still curious.

The Marsh King’s Daughter turned out to be an interesting read. However, I had difficulties connecting with the MC. I just didn’t get her. I understand that her character was deliberate due to her upbringing but I couldn’t connect with her and so I wasn’t really excited about spending time in her mind. There was also a fairytale that I honestly didn’t get for most part of the story and some graphic scenes that I had to skim over. Other than that, this was quite a disturbing, fast-paced read and I am glad that I finally got a chance to read it.

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine

Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…

You’re not safe anywhere now.

Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.

But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.

Review

I read the first book in this series, Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine, when it was released in July this year. The book ended with a cliffhanger that left me anxiously waiting to see how the story would progress. Needless to say, I was super excited when this book showed up on Netgalley.

Killman Creek begins exactly where the last book ended. Gwen Proctor is in hiding again with her kids. Her ex-husband, convicted serial killer, Melvin Royal has escaped jail. In the first book, Gwen was in mostly in hiding, working hard to conceal her family’s new identities and protect the new life that they had. However, in this book, she takes a completely different approach to deal with Melvin.

The story is definitely suspenseful from the first page. It feels like Melvin is hunting Gwen and of course, she is not just sitting around waiting for him to find her. I was nervous especially reading some of the sections narrated by the kids. I thought someone was bound to say or do something that would reveal the family’s location and jeopardize the kids’ safety. In addition, the hackers and online bullies are back and more intimidating. So many different things were happening hence keeping me at the edge of my seat.

I really enjoyed the character development. Each of the characters, even the kids, changed so much from book one. The depiction of personality growth was so well-done and realistic.  In addition, the author used multiple narrators hence helping readers get to know the characters even better. Gwen and Sam’s narrations had the most action. However, I liked the kids’ narrations best. Connor and Lanny are both struggling with different issues which the author tackled masterfully while still maintaining the main story-line. Connor’s narrations were so tense but addictive to read.

This book is definitely different from the first one. I feel like Stillhouse Lake was more of a psychological thriller. Killman Creek is filled with non-stop action. Honestly, I have never been a fan of action. Gun-fights, explosives, kicks and punches just don’t work for me. However, Caine still managed to ensure that the action was intertwined with the mystery hence it was well-balanced. What bugged me a bit is how darker the themes of this book were as compared with the first one. There was more violence too. I think all this ties in with the increased action.

If you are looking for an addictive thriller series, then I definitely recommend this one. This is one case where I absolutely insist that you have to read the books in order. Stillhouse Lake is the first book in the series and Killman Creek is the final one. Of the two, I prefer the first one. Nevertheless, this is definitely a great series perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers.

 

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor

London, 1942: Thirteen-year-old Nell and five-year-old Olive are being sent away from home to escape the devastation of the East End during the Blitz. Leaving behind their beloved mother and brothers, they don’t know if they will ever see them again.

As the sisters adjust to their new life in a close-knit Welsh village, they gradually find hope in the friendships they make. And Nell kindles a special bond with fellow evacuee Jimmy, who makes her smile even at the hardest of times.

But when little Olive’s safety is threatened, Nell makes a decision that will change their lives forever. They must run from danger and find their way home…

Together, through tears and laughter, the two sisters hold each other’s hands as they make an incredibly brave journey across war-torn England. Will they be reunited with the family they have missed for so many years? Or is there more heartache to come?

Review

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor is a beautiful, moving story set in 1942 during the war. At the heart of the story are two young girls, Nell and Olive. The sisters were evacuees sent away from London to the countryside to keep them safe from the war. I fell in love with these two characters right from the first chapter. Nell is a sweet, strong young girl who I enjoyed getting to know through the chapters. I also loved how she was protective over her little sister. Just thinking of Olive right now brings tears to my eyes. I just love that little girl with all her quirkiness. I enjoyed reading about her and she made me smile a lot despite the fact that this wasn’t a light read.

This is a story about love and family in the time of war. Taylor took me through an emotional roller-coaster as I read about the two girls. I loved the imagery used in this book as it made me feel like I was right there in 1943 with the girls. You know how some authors can paint a picture using words? Yeah, that is definitely Taylor.  I also enjoyed the character development. There are many wonderful characters that were well crafted in their roles that they impacted on the story even if they played minor roles. Apart from family, I loved the other dominant theme in the narrative, which was friendship. This was brilliantly portrayed between different characters. I loved how even the most unlikely people formed beautiful bonds throughout the story.

The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor is quite an emotional, addictive read that I am certain will stay with me for a long time. Sandy’s writing is flawless. She has the ability to make readers forget everything else but the story. That is definitely what happened to me. For hours, I was completely lost in the world that she created. I shared in the joy and sadness of the characters. This book had me smiling then crying and sometimes doing both at the same time. I totally adore this story and can’t read more books from this amazing author. Honestly, if you haven’t yet discovered Sandy Taylor’s books then you are definitely missing out on a great reading experience.

Ps: The first book that I read by Sandy Taylor was When We Danced at the End of the Pier which I reviewed here.  This was yet another beautiful, emotional read that I highly recommend.