4.25⭐
While I wasn‘t always a fan of the constant timeline switches…I still found this to be another solid heartfelt contemporary romance from this author. I like how this author writes a story…she doesn‘t add extraneous unnecessary details and makes magical realism fun and oddly believable. The narration by Julia Whelan was fantastic.

3⭐
Try this if you like…⬗mystery psychological thriller⬗a missing twin sister⬗past & present timelines
I wanted to like this book but it was only barely okay. I couldn‘t connect with the MC or the story which I believe was due to the narration. The ending was maybe good…at least I think it was. So maybe, it would be better to read this one over listening. Although, the two reviews on Audible seemed to like her...so what can I say?

4.25⭐
If you like a thriller that‘s twisty throughout, fairly fast-paced, and easily holds your interest, this could be the one for you. I was constantly trying to figure out the whats and the whys at play in this book. Some I figured out...and some I didn't see coming at all. The narration by Andi Arndt was very well performed.

3⭐The audio was very well done on this book and probably made some elements seem more probable than they were because I was so immersed in the story. However, I wasn't too fond of how the podcast was presented in the story and found the podcasters themselves unlikable; although, I think they were supposed to be unlikable. Either way…they were what brought the story down for me. While the non-ending could be an issue for some it wasn't for me.

5⭐Wow…I didn‘t know much about Jennette McCurdy before I started this and I was not her target audience when her show was a hit. I was completely there for the story she had to tell. It was quite good and surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. This girl‘s mother was something else…I didn‘t understand the book's title at first, but now, I sure do. Her narration was fantastic and she would actually make a terrific narrator for fiction books.

3.75⭐
This was a spur-of-the-moment read for me. I was randomly looking up audio‘s that were available now and this was the one I went with…I thought it would be more of a survival story…but it was much more reflective than surviving the wilds of Alaska. The ending was its saving grace and made the slow-ish pace of the rest of the book, mostly worthwhile. The narration by Karissa Vacker was amazing as always.

Try this if you like…
⬗something different even if it‘s super boring
⬗a very slow-burn light thriller
⬗mind-numbing stories about cleaning an office

Well…it was an experience even if it wasn‘t good. I‘m over here trying to figure out what the purpose of this book is and 🤷🏼‍♀️. Unless it‘s written by someone who cleans offices for a living and her whole purpose is to get people to quit being so messy…and “messy” can have a double meaning here.

4⭐
I wouldn't say that I didn‘t like it…but it did take a little bit to get there. This is wildly different than her previous novels and I would say that I prefer her other work more than this one. I think she was probably trying to appeal to her naysayers…but I liked her writing the way it was. Despite this, it was entertaining and filled with thrilling action and all the backstabbing that would come with people competing for a cash prize.⬇️⬇️⬇️

4.5⭐
Imagine if you will…a woman held hostage for the past five years by a man in the-middle-of-nowhere BFM (bummed f*cked Michigan) is suddenly set free when the power goes out and her locked door is suddenly unlocked…and from there the story ensues. An interesting concept set against an apocalyptic EMP setting. Being from Michigan, it‘s quite surreal to hear all these very familiar cities and areas talked about in such a daunting situation.

New #bookspinbingo board. All ready for APRIL.

#bookspin = If I Lose Her by Brianne Sommerville
#doublespin = We Play Games by Sarah A Denzil

@TheAromaofBooks

My MARCH #bookspinbingo board! 5 Bingo's total. I finished all but 4 squares. I had 3 DNFs for the month (Argylle, Under This Red Rock, & One Dark Window).

#bookspin & #doublespin were both completed.

@TheAromaofBooks

My #bookspin list for APRIL!

A few carry-overs, a few last-minute adds, a few that fit some other challenges, and of course, a slew of library holds.

@TheAromaofBooks

4⭐
I don‘t want to give too much away above…so all I‘m going to add is…if you like insane plots with batshit crazy twists then this might be the book for you. Normally I don‘t vibe with books where religious beliefs are a large part of the plot…but this one didn‘t turn me off. The narration by Gail Shalan was sufficient and even rather good at times. Either she‘s improving or she‘s growing on me.

3⭐
This was just okay…predictable AF, but okay. It didn‘t bring anything new to the genre…which at this point in a market saturated with so many similar types of dystopias, it needed to; at least if it wanted to stand out. Also…it was tedious at times with too many inane details that nobody needed to know. I doubt that I‘ll continue with the series. The narration by Justis Bolding was quite good.

3.5⭐Light Pick.
I can appreciate what the author was trying to do here, I just wasn‘t a fan of the execution. I‘m not a fan of extraneous details, so I was left struggling to stay in the story and it was especially difficult with Ruth‘s POV. Whenever I stopped listening, I felt no pull to return to it…so it took me forever to finish. But maybe you shouldn‘t let my opinion keep you from experiencing this book because many others have loved it.

3.75⭐This book has an odd cover, almost as if it was left unfinished….but anyhoo…this is my first Ali Hazelwood book, and while this book was compulsively readable I can‘t help but inevitably come up with some elements that didn‘t work for me. Also…for a Vampyre/Werewolf book, this was surprisingly un-supernatural, other than the knotting🠠WTF seriously, that scene was so awkward. Although, it‘s quite likely that I‘ll listen to the next one.

2.5⭐
Outlier alert: while everyone else liked Eddie‘s POV, I struggled to stay in the story on her part. I guess I‘m an enigma because I didn‘t find her all that interesting. Also, I was not a fan of the ending. Overall, I didn‘t hate this in any way…but I didn‘t like it all that much, either. But while I was not fond of it much I can see how it might appeal to others. The narration by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker was fantastic.

4⭐
If you‘ve been disappointed by the lack of thrills in a Carola Lovering novel before then this one might not work for you since it‘s on par with her other psychological thrillers, they are more psychological than thriller. I find them intriguing, the way she delves into the psyche of the mind of her characters and pulls these complex, nuanced stories out of them. The narration by Helen Laser & Karissa Vacker was very good.

4.75⭐
This is another fabulous ghost story from the queen of ghost mysteries. She makes ghosts palatable for someone, like me, who doesn‘t typically like the paranormal. This totally gave me some Jeepers Creepers vibes in the beginning. So creepy, the atmosphere she sets is top-notch. The characters are believable and the ending was really satisfying. The narration by Brittany Pressley was absolutely fantastic…she‘s my all-time fav.

4⭐
I think my favorite scenes in this series involve her daughter…she‘s such a clever girl, and she has quite a few in this book. Finlay Donovan is up to her shenanigans again. This fourth book in the series takes things on the road and finds closure for many of the threads dangling, which I really liked. But of course…she also ends this with a cliffhanger…it makes me wonder how long she‘s going to milk this series for.

5⭐This author usually writes YA books…but she has ventured into the adult world of mystery thrillers and she…freaking nailed it. She delivered one of the best unreliable narrators I‘ve ever read before. Lucy, our heroine, was a snark-lovers delight…at first, I wasn‘t sure about her, like maybe she was a little off…but the more I got to know her and her story, the more I loved her. There‘s a reason everyone is loving this and I highly recommend it.

4⭐
The cover suggests this is about drug addiction but, it was only a small part of the story and in no way the main focus. The main focus is the trial which is what is presently going on…and through the course of the trial, we get flashbacks of what led her to be on trial for manslaughter. Emotionally this could‘ve had a little more depth to it…but otherwise, this was a solid YA legal thriller showcasing the need to fit in with one's peers.

4.25⭐
You may think you know where this story is going….but you‘ll be wrong. Jewel E Ann never fails to make her romance plots unique, angsty and so very awe-inducing. I‘m not going to say that I loved how everything worked out in the end…but it was definitely unlike any other romance ending I‘ve encountered. The narration was terrific by the two narrators.

3.5⭐ Low Pick
I think this is only available for free on Audible+ until May 7th when the book comes out. This is worth the listen if you have Audible+ and enjoy audio dramatizations. The narration was so good, especially Brendan Fraser…I loved his deep voice. Unfortunately, the author made this feel more like a statement piece instead of focusing on the characters and plot. But…overall it did have some interesting and thought-provoking moments.

4.25⭐
This is a well-established series with a lot of books in it…16 actually…plus short stories scattered throughout. I liked this first book enough that I‘ll be continuing the series despite the graphicness, because wow…it was rather intense at times. I found the incongruencies between the Amish community and the “English” community rather interesting and the author's research was rather evident here and in the police procedures.⬇️⬇️⬇️

4⭐
If you‘re a fan of books that don‘t have a lot of extraneous details, which I am, then this could be a good fit for you. That‘s not to say that it‘s lacking in character development…only that it has just the right amount of it. While this isn‘t likely to blow your mind with its twist; it is definitely fast-paced and fun…as much axe-murdering can be fun, anyway.

My listening recap for February.

I completed 16 books, all of which were from the library...I seriously love the library🥰😍

I had 2 DNFs for the month, A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat...and The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne.

MY total time spent listening for the month was 163 Hours 16 Mins...after speeding the audio up I averaged it out to about 80 hours total. My top genre was Thriller with Mystery a close second.

My #bookspinbingo board for February results. I filled in all but 5 (#15,17,22,14&7) spots this month...so not too bad. 2 DNFs for the month, which was both #4 & #5 plus my bookspin #13.

#bookspin = completed
#doublespin = completed

5 BINGOs total!!!

@TheAromaofBooks

3.75⭐
This was a decent YA viral-induced dystopian where the world is not much different than what it is now….except a section of Texas was quarantined due to a viral outbreak 20 years ago and it was never lifted. They were walled off and left to fend for themselves. It's an interesting concept that was executed well with plenty of witty banter. Everything about it is kept strictly in the YA genre and overall, it was a worthwhile listen.

My MARCH #bookspinbingo list! Most of these are holds that I have at my libraries.

@TheAromaofBooks

3.75⭐
This was more educational than thrilling which left me less than thrilled some of the time…but overall, it did have some interesting moments. You can really tell the author knows something about eating disorders and some other psychological elements that are at play here. It could‘ve been more gripping if the plot had been tightened up a bit and maybe didn‘t spend so much time on her problems with anorexia.

4.25⭐
Whenever I write about a book where the character goes back home…I always have the same song go through my head….I‘m Coming Home by Skylar Grey. So, yeah, another book about coming back to your hometown with a murder thrown to spice things up. While I didn‘t love this one like the first Rita Myers book, it was still noteworthy. I love how this author adds some real emotion to her character's story it makes everything so much more relatable.

4.25⭐
If you haven‘t read the 1st book featuring Dt. Cara Kennedy, City Under One Roof, then you really should before starting this book because there is a background and characters from the 1st book. Besides it has one of the most unique settings in a book I‘ve ever read about…and while it only visits that city it was still quite impressive since it is still set in the wilds of Alaska. This is a great follow-up and highlights Cara‘s backstory.

2⭐ for both books...

(tagged book)This book was depressing. I never felt like anything was resolved and it‘s possible that was the point of it…but I was left wanting something different, overall.

(for EWCFMID)This book didn‘t work for me…I could not force myself to care for this MC or her story…it was a serious letdown because that damn title had me thinking this would be good.

4⭐
If you like your thrillers devoid of extraneous details, ones where the action takes center stage…then this is your type of thriller. I have to believe that this story hits differently if you‘re a thriller writer…because...Oof. I thought I knew what the twist was going to be…and I was partly right…but it was a little more in-depth, so well played. The narration by Mara Wilson was performed swimmingly.

4.5⭐
The action starts right from the gate with this one with a mother trying to protect 2 children from an intruder in the house in the middle of the night. The action is broken up with flashbacks to the family‘s past. The possibility of an unreliable narrator is introduced early on, so I didn‘t think I was giving away too much with that one…but I‘ve deliberately omitted a lot of what happens because this one is best when going in mostly blind.

5⭐
I haven‘t cared about the characters in a book this much in a long time. Especially Leni and Matthew. Kristin Hannah made the state of Alaska come alive for me. This was so very good. From the moment I started to the very last second, I was fully engaged. The narration by Julia Whelan was exceptional.

3.5⭐
Despite having everything a good YA mystery needs, this still failed to pull me in. I mean, I was there…but I wasn‘t there, there. It was probably just a case of it‘s not you, it‘s me. Even the narration by McKenzie Fetters was decent…so I‘m still not sure what it was. So I'm going to say it was a light Pick.

3.75⭐
It's an interesting story, to be sure, but at times the narrative reads more like non-fiction…which wasn‘t all bad…but the POV of the mother was infinitely more engaging than that of the professor. I feel like this should have hit deeper than it did…but that‘s not to say that I didn‘t like it, not at all...the subject matter was captivating and I enjoyed the mystery of it.

4.75⭐JEA can write some compelling, outside-of-the-box cont. romance and I am here for it. This is book #3 in the Life Series…but it isn‘t necessary to read the first two books in the series because they are about a different unrelated couple. It will be necessary to read book #4, though, if you want to know how Colton and Josie‘s story ends because it ends in the middle of their story. In fact…things were just getting interesting when it ended.

3.5⭐
The narration is where this book shined…while the writing could use some work, the narration was top-notch. When the story got bogged down with believability issues, the narration kept me listening. The romance between the main characters could‘ve been more plausible with more scenes between them, and maybe more inner dialogue would‘ve actually sold me on it.⬇️⬇️⬇️

My January Recap! These are all the books I finished for January. I had 7 DNFs total for the month.

Fav book of the month: All The Dark Places (1/23 finish date) by Terri Parlato & Runner-up is Only If You're Lucky (1/17 finish date) by Stacy Willingham.

Fav cover of the month: Dreambound (1/8 finish date) & runner-up is This Wretched Valley (1/19 finish date)

Light Pick | 3.5⭐
Months ago, I DNF‘d this but knew I wanted to get back to it. I loved The Wolves of Winter by this author so I wanted to love this but it was so different from that. In this book, we have an MC who is difficult to like, she makes bad decision after bad decision, but ultimately, I‘m glad I stuck it out with her because eventually everything starts clicking into place. The ending managed to make my efforts feel vindicated.

My February #bookspinbingo Board!

#bookspin = The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelley
#doublespin = Last Girl Breathing by Court Stevens

Psyched to see how much of this board I can fill up.

@TheAromaofBooks

3.5⭐(a Pick as long as you read instead of listen)
This was a fun little spy novel…that had its moments when it felt forced/fake, which I believe was due to the robotic narration by Devon Sorvari…otherwise, I‘d probably rated this much higher. The second narrator, Mia Ellis was much better, but unfortunately, she had the smaller part in this.

#bookspinbingo List for February!

@TheAromaofBooks

4.5⭐This deals with so many relevant topics which could be either a draw or a turn-off for some because the author's opinions on these matters did come through more than they should have. However, despite this, I found myself more invested as the story progressed. The narration by Xe Sands was excellent...as long as I slow her down more than I do other narrators.

My #january #bookspinbingo board!
I completed my board again this month...of course...I DNF'd 6 (yes 6) of those...but once I finish the book I'm listening to, I'll have also completed 2 additional books that aren't on the board. So I guess that negates at least 2 of those DNFs...

#bookspin & #doublespin were completed and neither were DNF's, at least.

@theAromaofBooks

3.75⭐Light Pick
This is about a woman with past trauma trying to move on with her life by ignoring what happened in the past and completely reinventing herself as someone else…someone who is not very likable. We find out early on some of what happens to her with her flashbacks…and there is a dreadful sense of foreboding that there is something else. That‘s where the story gets a whole lot more interesting. It was a bit of a slog until then.

4.25⭐
You may need a spreadsheet to keep track of all the characters and how they are connected to keep all the reveals that come at you at the end straight…but other than that this was a twisty thriller about coming home and dealing with the ghosts of your past. All I can say is this story has a lot more depth to it than what you first think and it will keep you guessing to the very end.