Mystery / Thriller Tuesday (Feature #2)

 

#1 Gingerbread Bones by: Lindsay Lovise

#2 Poppy Montgomery Gets Even by: Gordon Jack

#3 The Anniversary by: Alex Finlay

#4 If Books Could Kill by: Kate Eberle

#5 Keep Them Close by: David Ellis

This week's Thriller / Mystery picks are in! These are titles I've hand selected myself that look like awesome reads in this specific genre! Chosen based on their eye-catching cover designs, their creative narratives, and punchy presentations. ✌😎

*Every week I create a feature where those who are fans or interested in finding new reads can add some cool books to your to-read pile!*

If you have any recommendations for me, please drop a line! You can do so on Instagram or @threads - just follow and comment @dearrestlessreader 💜

1. Gingerbread Bones - They're being hunted…

When sixteen-year-old Georgie and her troublemaking brother are shipped off to the wilderness for their stepmother’s newest reality show, Georgie is convinced it’ll be the worst experience of her life. Two weeks. No phones. Hiking. Camping. Cameras catching every humiliating second.

One night, the counselors are chanting affirmations around the fire. By morning, they’re gone.

But the kids are not alone.

Georgie can feel it, stalking them from the shadows―watching, waiting, picking them off one by one. Whatever it is, it isn’t just hunting.

2.) Poppy Montgomery Gets Even - Eighty-year-old Poppy Montgomery has always taken a negative view of her life. Her father? A bully. Her husbands? Losers. Her daughter and grandson? Well, they’re probably her fault. And now the police have taken away her license, her daughter wants to put her in a retirement home, and the bossy new fitter-than-thou attendee at water aerobics is taking over her favorite class.

But enough is enough, and when her new friend, Ginny, is scammed on a dating site for seniors, Poppy decides it’s time to finally get even. With the help of Jeremy, her tech-savvy grandson, Poppy launches a vindictive little caper, scamming the scammers that prey on the elderly online

3.) The Anniversary - On one fateful night in 1992, the lives of two seventeen-year-olds are changed and intertwined forever. Quinn Riley, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, is arrested after he innocently tries to break up a fight but ends up nearly killing someone. Jules Delaney, high school royalty, survives an attack by the elusive and terrifying May Day Killer—a serial predator who strikes every May 1st in midwestern small towns.

A year later, Jules is struggling with trauma and guilt, tormented by one question: Why was I spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to fresh the unsolved murder of his mother...

4.) If Books Could Kill - A NOVEL LOVE STORY meets LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS in this rom-com following Roxie Mitchell, an adventure-loving romance reader who finds herself trapped in a meet-cute turned murderous

When Roxie makes a tongue-in-cheek wish to live out the plot of her favorite author’s next novel, she has romance in mind—namely, the sweet, safe, swoon-worthy storylines Anna Matthews is known for. It should be a dream come true when her wish is granted and she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger who seems designed to take her breath away.

Except for one little hiccup: That handsome stranger tries to take her breath away. Literally. With a knife. The thing is, Roxie may be the new Anna Matthews protagonist—but this time, Anna is writing a crime thriller.

5.) Keep Them Close - Siblings Allison and Luke have been through a lot together. They’ve always stood by each other. They’d do anything for each other.

Or so it seems.

When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation threatens to expose the siblings’ darkest secrets. An illicit affair. A decades-old accident. A stunning deception. How do these events explain Finley’s death? How far will Allison and Luke go to keep their secrets buried? And can the siblings even trust one another anymore? 

I LOVE BLENDED GENRES AND MANY OF THESE INCORPORATE ROMANCE, HUMOR, THRILLER, MYSTERY ELEMENTS, WHICH MAKES THESE UNIVERSAL STORY ELEMENTS I LOVE ALL BLENDED TO CREATE THE BEST TALES! Stay tuned every week for new features!!

What Mystery / Thriller novels are you excited for?! Recs here!👇❤

Chef's Kiss (Review)

 

My Review: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Look out, this graphic novel is bold, hearty, and will have you savoring each page!

Alright, hear me out, the cover design made me buy it, BUT guess what? This book delivers the goods. It's ridiculously fun, light-hearted, and most of all cute. The illustrations are vibrant, quirky, and stunning. It's about a guy named Ben who's just discovering himself and trying to find his place in the world. The story is crafted with life-lessons that are extremely relatable. It's even got a few unconventional twists that involve cooking, a very intellectual pet pig with a fine palette, and a chef that is hotter than the dishes he makes that adds an extra layer of spice and peculiarity to the story.

The story is insanely solid, the characters are all very well-drawn, distinctive, and is creatively developed from start to finish. One of the most satisfying standalone novels I've read, because it doesn't pressure you to a series commitment and it wraps up with a fine conclusion which is really what everyone wants from narrative especially one as delectable as this one.

In addition, the leading chef Liam is a true heartthrob with only good intentions, and it really pushes the connection between Ben and him. Liam is a selfless character who vouches for Ben upon encountering the harsh-spoken owner, who tests and challenges Ben to meet the standards of his restaurant. Ben's trusty roommates are also involved in his journey to unfolding where his true passion lies and they complement and balance his character out with unique personalities and perspectives.

What a terrific little read, finished it within 2 hours, and wish that there were leftovers (pun obviously intended!). YET, cool-enough, there is bonus art at the end along with fun bios of each character which was a truly great plus to the whole thing. OH, and the author even shares the recipes they make in the book for anyone daring to try to chef it up and create the fun dishes.

My Synopsis:

Ben is a shy, talented writer and avid reader who is looking for his first real job in the writing field. Low and behold life decides to throw lemons at him, and so he learns to make lemonade. After many interviews who all expect him to have a plethora of professional experience he stumbles across an opportunity, the only one he can find before he has to call his parents and move back home. He finds himself torn between learning how to cook up some crazy dishes or pursue the dreams he's had of being an employed writer. The kitchen as it would seem has many challenges, especially when the chef is as good-looking as the desserts the restaurant serves up. 

Overall, this is the kind of graphic novel to end reading funks, makes you feel happy, blush a little, and laugh a little harder. GRAB IT and ADD IT to your TBR!!

Disclaimer: It's LGBT, with some expletives and innuendos, certainly not suitable for anyone under the age of 17. 

LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N !