Extinction by Douglas Preston

Erebus Resort in the Colorado Rockies has discovered a way to de-extinct several Pleistocene era mammals including the wooly mammoth through genetic manipulation. When a newlywed couple visiting the park goes missing and are discovered to be brutally unalived, CBI agent Frances Cash and county sheriff James Colcord team up. At first suspecting eco-terrorists they soon discover that the threat is bigger than they could have ever imagined.  

If you enjoyed Jurassic Park, this book is similar, but also quite unique. The science fiction aspect of the genetics testing was well explained so the average reader (aka, me lol!) could understand without getting too lost in the details. I liked how the partnership between Cash and Colcord developed throughout the story from antagonism to friendship (and is there a hint in there of a sequel?) I really like Douglas Preston's writing and I was super excited to get an early copy of this book!

Thanks to Tor Publishing through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

My Goodreads Review

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

This book is about three "sisters" who bonded through their experiences in their foster home under the care of the evil Miss Fairchild. The abuse they suffered affected them all in different ways and they just want to put it behind them. But now when the foster home is sold and demolished, a body is discovered under the house and the sisters are brought back to their childhood nightmare as witnesses... or are they suspects.

I like psychological thrillers that reveal pieces of the story a little bit at a time with a before and after timeline. The story also jumps between the three sisters and another unnamed person talking to their psychologist in short chapters that hold your attention. With a few shocking reveals and plenty of twists, this book had me flipping pages long after my bedtime to find out what really happened.

Thanks to St Martins Press through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

My Goodreads Review

The Devine Doughnut Shop by Carolyn Brown

This is a family drama centered around the family donut shop run by two sisters and their cousin. Grace is a single mother raising a headstrong teenage daughter, her sister Sarah has given up on love and relationships, and their cousin Macy is planning her wedding. Their great-grandmother's recipe has been a secret handed down through the generations but now a developer has come to town wanting to make the donut shop into a national chain.

Definitely more drama than romance as that's a very clean and slow burn party of the story. The debates between Grace and Audrey were very realistic and had me chuckling and glad that Grace had so much support and advice from her family. I felt that the story could have used more editing as some of the sayings and themes were repeated and the overly Christian vibe was a bit annoying. But overall it was a good story. 3.5 stars rounded up. 

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads review

The Upper Crush by Evie Alexander

Estelle Foxbrooke has hated James Hunter-Savage since he became her twin brother's nemesis at age 13. With every encounter, he's just enforced his reputation as a rich playboy that cares for nothing more than himself. Inconvenient then how attracted she is to him. Especially when they're forced together to plan the town festival and their strong personalities clash at every turn. The more time they spend together, the more Estelle realizes how wrong she was about his true personality and the more James feels he can show his true self. 

This is an enemies to lovers, country girl/ city boy, he falls first romance that's part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I loved seeing the true James start to show as pieces of his defensive mask started to fall away. Just as his sister said, he's a true marshmallow under all the bluster. The banter between him and Estelle was top notch and had me laughing at their antics and it was fun to see her feelings slowly change toward him. Also the cover art of this book caught my eye and made me want to read the story!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Goodreads review 

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Love You, Mean It by Jilly Gagnon

Ellie Greco left her small hometown of Milborough for the bright lights of New York to pursue her dream of costume design but five years before, when her father died, she returned home to temporarily run the family deli... and has been stuck there since. Greco's deli is the only place left that makes her feel closer to her dad and when a big foodie department store threatens to come to town and put her business at risk, she's determined to do whatever it takes to squash the deal.

Theo Taylor is in charge of the sale of the building for his father's real estate business. He has plans of his own for this building and agrees to meet with Ellie, but before they can even discuss things he gets hit in the head in a freak accident and wakes up in the hospital with amnesia and Ellie claiming to be his fiance. When his memories come back though, he decides this fake engagement could be just the thing to put his own plans in place. Can they convincingly pull it off without catching real feelings?

There was plenty of judgement from both sides to cause drama and tension over money and class, plus the ex who just seems like a better fit and wants another try with Theo. I like all the funny banter and sexual tension between the two that they try so hard to deny. They both learned a hard life lesson through their heartbreak and eventually found a hopeful HEA. I thought this was a sweet opposites attract, enemies to lovers romance with just enough spice. 

Thanks to Random House - Ballantine through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

It starts after her friend's hen do one night when she arrives home drunk only to find her husband Michael waiting for her. Only problem, she's not married and has no memory of this man even though her family seems to know him and their whole history together. The next day he goes to change a light bulb in the attic and another husband emerges in his place. And every time, her life resets-- new furniture, new job, money in the bank.... even any injuries are magically gone. As she cycles through different husbands searching for the perfect one, some only lasting seconds, others weeks, she starts to realize that there will always be little imperfections with every one and always searching for something better might not be living her best life at all.

This is such a unique story. I was fascinated by the endless variety of men popping out of the attic and how her life changes with every one. Time moves on and the people around her for the most part stay the same, never realizing how drastically her life is constantly changing. And the ending, while abrupt, left me with a feeling of hope for her future. This was a great debut novel and I look forward to more books by this author!

Thanks to Doubleday Books through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

Tourist Season by Brenda Novak

While the cover promises a lighthearted beach read, this was more of a mystery/thriller. The story quickly takes a dark turn when a storm knocks out the power and Ismay finds something ominous in the back of her fiancé's closet. Her relationship with Remy was Ricky for awhile between his studying to be a doctor and her a lawyer, leaving little time together. She's hoping once he finally comes to the island they can reconnect. When the property caretaker, Bo, comes to check on her in the storm and then needs refuge when his own cottage is damaged, they become close friends. When she confides what she found in the closet to Bo, he fears she's in danger. 

I liked how the relationship developed in a slow burn between Bo and Ismay from friendship to lovers. Remy just seemed like such a cold unfeeling fiance and not right for her even before we find out the truth. The creepy addition of Bastian, Remy's psycho twin adds even more tension. But the ending to me just fell flat. Such an easy conclusion after all the tension in the story with no drama left me wanting more. Overall just OK for me. 

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.