Close your Eyes and Count to 10
Lisa Unger
I have an interesting relationship with Lisa Unger books. There have been times I have loved them and there have been other times. CLOSE YOUR EYES is one of the latter. I feel like her most of her writing happens in the dark and I have appreciated it more when she steps into the light.
CLOSE YOUR EYES is about a mother, left to fend for herself and her family by her husband. She has made it through some of the tougher times alone. She is an influencer with more debt than support. More debits than credits.
One day her son tells her about a reality game based on the childhood game of hide and seek. The prize for winning it all is more money than she’ll ever see in her lifetime. He thinks she can win it all. She realizes she does too.
What she doesn’t know is that the game is set up with the odds stacked against the players. And to win, she’ll have to find the parts of herself long hidden, and lose the part of herself she has long held onto.
Books based on games don’t always work for me. And when this book was put together in the blender parts of it stayed separated like oil and water. It felt clunky and rocky, not smooth and it didn’t allow for an entertaining and enjoyable reading experience. It felt like work, and far more than it was worth.
I’m sorry this one didn’t quite work for me. I will continue to read Unger’s book and I’m hoping for a better connection next time!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the advanced copy!
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10…⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra
Book Summary.
NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE LOST TREASURE
Lorenzo Carcaterra
All I did was read a Lorenzo Carcaterra novel to feel like I’ve traveled the world.
We’re armchair traveling and visiting the beautiful island of Ischia, Italy with Nonna in NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE LOST TREASURE. It has been requested that she help a long-time friend and peer, Captain Moreno, on a case. This case is unlike anything Nonna or The Captain have faced before. They’ll need every ounce of bravery and every pound of knowledge to solve the case.
Luckily, it seems they have enough of both.
Nonna must solve the case of the lost treasure, dispel a dose of old Italian wisdom, and keep everyone around her safe. Will she do it or will this case be the one that ends Nonna’s solving streak?
Only Lorenzo Carcaterra and NONNA MARIA will tell.
When I want to travel sometimes, I read a book. When I want to travel to Italy specifically, get a dose of grandmotherly advice, catch up with the locals, and enjoy a triple espresso and a bite of tiramisu, I reach for the latest book in the NONNA MARIA series.
Recently it was NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE LOST TREASURE and just like last time I had a fantastic reading experience. This time Nonna is on the case again. This time at the request of Captain Moreno, a long-time friend and peer.
I love Nonna and The Captain is a close second. They are what makes the series and I always enjoy spending time with them.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine | Bantam for the advanced copy!
NONNA MARIA AND THE CASE OF THE LOST TREASURE…⭐⭐⭐
YOU ARE FATALLY INVITED
Ande Pliego
A group of thriller authors are invited to a writers retreat by someone known as J.R Alastor. Every author has their own theory of who Alostor is and why they were each invited.
One of them in particular has motives of their own and before the sun sets one of the invitees ends up dead.
Who is the murderer and who is responsible? It may not be the same person and it is certainly is not who you think.
This is my first experience with Pliego and I would happily revisit. It wasn’t a perfect book for me but there was enough there that I believe revisiting their backlist would be beneficial.
For the most part I enjoyed my reading experience. However, I felt like things were being explained to me and that was a big turnoff. It was as if the writing without the over explanation wouldn’t make sense.
There were a lot of bookish references and movie tie ins that made it interesting to me.
I believe if the author had left a little unsaid it would’ve shortened the material to a more succinct length and it would’ve been a more enjoyable read.
Ultimately, I found the dinner party mysteries to be a lot of fun. And trying to guess at who the bad guy was, was even more so.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine | Bantam for the advanced copy!
YOU ARE FATALLY INVITED…⭐️⭐️⭐️
