Lili St. Germain - The Field of Wrongdoing

The Field of Wrongdoing by Lili St. Germain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Apparently this is a re-release of the original book, titled Gun Shy (hated the cover), which I already owned and never got around to reading. So I wish I had known I already had it before purchasing it again.

Anyway, this story is true Lili St. Germain dark, and I mean DARK. Trigger warnings everywhere with this one. But it's also a story of survival despite the horrible things you had to endure for years at the hand of your abuser. If you aren't willing to jump off the cliff and go on the long road ..... then this may not be for you. I don't mind the dark road, and I really liked how this all played out.

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Callie Hart - Riot Act (Crooked Sinners #3)

Riot Act by Callie Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Out of the three Riot House boys, Wren was my favorite. That was until I met Pax.

Dangerous, Dark, Obsessive, Broken. He has built a suit of armor around himself to block out the world. His anger and hostility to everyone but Wren and Dash is his weapon to keep people at bay.

But that all changes in the blink of eye with squealing tires and a girl thrown from a car bleeding to death. Somehow she sparks something in him, something he doesn't know how to handle. But Pres no longer has any fear and pushes him to places he never thought he would go.

It was a long road of working thru the armor and removing it piece by piece. And I really loved all of it, this is my favorite story of the series and I really hope we get more because that ending left me hanging by a "thread" (LOL).

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Karin Slaughter - False Witness (standalone)

False Witness by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Karin Slaughter since the first Grant County series book, and even in to the Will Trent merge. With those series we have a dark mystery. A thriller that you have to put the pieces together to get to the end. I always liked the "chase" to the end.

But, with her standalones, not so much. I have had trouble "clicking" with the stories. I did finish this one, but it was difficult. I skimmed chapters of it. Because honestly, I read to escape life, not be reminded of the pandemic we are living through or the needle by needle lesson in how to be a junkie 101.

We always knew who the bad guys were, and there were more than one. But what this turned out to be was a story of two girls whose lives started out with a spectacularly shitty mother, and then being molested by the same horrible man. One daughter went in one direction, the other (who had the worst of the sexual abuse) went down a very dark road of self destruction. And how they both crashed together in the end.

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Chevy Stevens - Dark Roads

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn't think anything could equal the intensity of Still Missing. But I stand corrected.

Honestly I don't know, for once, how to relay my thoughts and feelings about this story. So many layers, secrets, mysteries. I hung on by my fingernails hoping for the survival of our 4 main characters each step of the way. And one of those is a dog named Wolf, who is just as important to this story as the humans. They never gave up. They fought each step of the way to find the truth. How Hailey and Beth lived thru their wilderness treks is astonishing.

I know this story is inspired by the Highway of Tears, but it holds it own in the emotional meaning of those tragedies. And gives us a small amount of resolution to the murder that starts this journey. I would have liked a better ending for Jonny and Beth as a couple, but it ended as it should have naturally.

This book will stay with me for a while (and brought me out of my reading slump).

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Darynda Jones - A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2)

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, this is the best book I've read all year.

Second, I'm devastated by the cliffhanger ending. I'm was not expecting that at all and sat stunned cursing Darynda Jones for crushing me. I needed more!!!

I like this second installment more than the first. We get way more in depth regarding Sunshine's kidnapping and all the secrets that surround that event start to trickle out. Auri (so like a mini me version of Sunshine) is up to all kinds of "You are so grounded" kind of plots, but for all the right reasons. Everyone has their own plot line running in this one too. And i was totally invested in every word. This series is hilarious at times, serious and emotional in others, and super hot when Sunshine and Levi are even just in the same room together.

I can't wait to read the next book..... like now would be really nice, please!

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Tiffany Reisz - The Auction (The Original Sinners - Standalone Story)

The Auction by Tiffany Reisz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm just so happy to be back with the Original Sinners.... Kingsley, Eleanor, Soren, and the infamous "club". Back to those original feelings we had in the beginning of this series.

If you have read the short story The Seven Day Loan, then you will know who Daniel is. It's not absolutely necessary to have read it, because we are given enough backstory to refresh everyone's memory. And if you haven't read any of the Original Sinners series, well your missing out and I can't help you. Start at the beginning, but if you are not a "kink" reader, then this may not be for you.

Daniel has returned from his 18 month trek while trying to get over his 2nd love, or who he thought was his 2nd love. Just to find his true 2nd love. Though nothing is easy in the world of Kingsley. You have to go thru alot of missteps to get where you truly belong.

Anya is trying her very best to make a better life for her siblings. How she wound up in Kingsley's realm is a mystery. But the old saying, right place - right time, is never truer than when she opens the door to a very dirty and disheveled Daniel. Love at first sight? Hmmmm, let the games begin!!

**ARC provided for review by author.

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