July Books Round-Up

My relationship with reading has been on and off since the latter half of last year and I can come up of a thousand reasons/excuses as to why, so I wouldn’t even dare and waste time for that. But July has been different, maybe that was because I was just bored to death or I was just drowning in an ocean of stress – both, actually – that I had seek refuge and escape thru the world of reading and as usual it didn’t fail to provide me those. I have contemplated of sharing my thoughts about the books just like I always did but I wasn’t really feeling it at the time, so I didn’t stress about it and just kept on reading.

So here are the books I’ve read for the month of July:

The Enchantress by Michael Scott
– This has been a long time coming. This is the last book in the author’s series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. I love this series so much, it made me a fan of reading. Yep. That happened. If you like adventure, fantasy, magic and mythology with a lot of disgusting and creepy looking creatures – at least, in my imagination- and if you don’t mind reading a six book series, read this.

Find Her by Lisa Gardner
– I was definitely on my element when I read this. Mystery, thriller, suspense … screams me. My favorite genre. I remember this has toyed with my mind. If you’re like me, who just loves thriller, give this a try.

Undercover by Danielle Steel
– I absolutely enjoyed this book. The first part may have been a little slow for me but it definitely made up on the latter half. If you know me, you’ll know romance and action is a pretty famous combo for me.

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
– Honestly, I have a torn heart for this. I don’t love it but I don’t hate it either. It has a little bit of romance and a little bit of mystery but the climax I think is what killed it for me. The twist in the end, I found it a bit lacking. I think it’s still a decent and entertaining read.

After You by Jojo Moyes
– I have to say that I was a little hesitant to read this after the heart-wrenching, soul-breaking mess I had experienced when I read Me Before You. I even hadn’t watch the movie yet, I guess I just don’t want to go through it again. But of course with so much curiosity eating me up, I gave in and I didn’t regret. I don’t want to spoil anything if you hadn’t read it. Just read it.

Zero Excuses: Hot to live a Beautiful Life and be Cool as F*ck by Gabriel Machuret
– This has been the greatest book I’ve read so far this year. One of the books that I’d very much want to have the physical copy  of. It’s a light read, it’s practical, it’s funny, it’s true. This book made me feel so guilty about a lot of things. From start to finish, if not all then a big chunk of it strongly resonated to me. So relatable.

Six books for a month is already plenty right? But I thought I have read more than that. I hope I can read more this coming month.

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Breakneck by Erica Spindler

The thing about me and book series is that I just couldn’t wait, so when I finished reading Copycat I immediately started reading Breakneck which is the second installment of the Kitt Lundren series.

Detective Kitt Lundgren and Detective Mary Catherine (M.C) Riggio partnered up again to a crime that involves young adults who are seemingly involved in illegal activities. After called up to Matt Martin’s apartment who was found dead as if he was sleeping on his bed but with his neck broken, partners Kitt and M.C were at a lost as they couldn’t find a motive because the young man’s criminal record was clean. Until at the night of M.C’s engagement party, her fiance Dan Gallo was shot on the head and not long after that M.C found her cousin, Tommy Mariano, dead on his bath tub with a shot also on the head. Then more bodies of young adults found. The case has become too close and too much for M.C that it eventually affected her and her relationship with Kitt. M.C must know who to trust and to decide whether to uphold the law or take it on her own hands.

Breakneck is the second book in the series but it can be read on its own. Breakneck was more focused on M.C and I think her character have shine in here and was explored more brought by the so much emotions that have put on her way. She showed how tough she can be, trying to hang in there despite all the things that she was going through and she also showed how fragile and vulnerable she was, always tempted to breakdown but of course being the woman that she was, she just wouldn’t let it happen. This book also showed another side of Kitt Lundgren’s character. I like how she always has M.C’s back, supporting her and always reminding her to not let the case consume her ‘cause Kitt had been there and knew that it was no good place to be. It also seemed to me that Kitt was more relax in here yet have the same fire to catch the suspect.

In this book, trust was a sensitive issue. You just don’t know who to trust. The story threw the characters in a series of doubt. I also like the idea that the matter involved in the story which was cyberthief, hacking and cracking, can be applied on this modern day which gave the readers lessons to learn and I  applaud that.

Breakneck is another fast-paced and thrilling read penned by Erica Spindler and another book that didn’t disappoint. It had me guessing as to who the culprit was, and when you thought you had him, turn to the next page and you’ll find out your wrong. I actually liked the twist in the end which is a big clap clap. It was an enjoyable read from the beginning up to the end. Would I recommend it? Of course I will because why not? It’s a great read.

Copycat by Erica Spindler

Surprise, surprise! Here I am again with my crime-thriller addiction and when you say crime-thriller, Erica Spindler’s name will always pop in my head because if you do not know already she’s my favorite.

I hadn’t read a book in over two months because I was not feeling it but lately I longed for the feeling of excitement, mystery and thrill that reading gives you and crave for the satisfaction when you finished a book. Since I was in a rut with reading, choosing a book to read was no easy feat so I asked myself what kind of book does hold my interest best, what kind of book makes my blood rush with excitement and yes, you guessed it, thrillers will always be at the top of my list.

So, I brought out Copycat and it surely didn’t disappoint. Copycat is the first book for the Kitt Lundgren series. It is about Detective Kitt Lundgren who has led the investigation about the serial killer she named as the Sleeping Angel Killer, who killed three ten-year old, blonde-haired and blue-eyed girls. No evidence, no witnesses and the killer calls them his ‘perfect crimes’ which have put Kitt’s career in jeopardy when she have let the killer slipped out of her hands. Then five years later, the Sleeping Angel Killer was back. Kitt noticed slight variations from the past killings and then the unthinkable happened when the killer himself called Kitt and offered to help her catch his copycat.

“A good investigator always let the scene and its evidence tell the story.”

One of the reasons why I love Erica Spindler’s books is that she has the ability to catch the reader’s interest and curiosity in just the first paragraph of the book. That’s proven at least in my case because that happens to me if not every time then most of the times that I have read her books. I’ve felt pity and amazement with Kitt’s character.  I’ve felt bad for her whenever she was having a meltdown, made me feel like I want to give her a hug but I was amazed with her as well because of how strong she was for handling and dealing with the situations she was in. I have had a love-and-hate relationship with Detective M.C Riggio’s character, Kitt’s partner, during the first half of the book maybe because she was too ambitious, slightly inconsiderate and always by the book kind of gal but I’ve grown to like her for the latter half of the book.

The thing that I love the most about this book was how it toyed with my mind; it had me guessing as to who the killer was and that’s a big thing for me ‘cause did I say that I love that? This book has a lot of suspicious characters; it had me thinking/guessing and was even paranoid for every character’s move. I love and hate it at the same time when my assumed killer turned up dead because I need me to have another guess as to who the culprit was which always add up to the thrill and excitement. I just love the mystery that this book has offered.

The story line for me was great, it was fast-paced but I have to say though, the twist in the end I found not really that satisfying or should I say I didn’t saw that one coming at all. It was beyond my guesses and surely I was not a fan of that. In my head it kind of had no sense and just kind of popped up out of nowhere. I was actually shocked when I read about it or maybe I thought I just didn’t paid enough attention with the clues, I don’t know. I wasn’t really that convinced, maybe it was just me but that’s another important thing for me in crime-thriller stories. The killers/suspects reasons as to what compelled them to do such things has to be convincing for me, that’s one way I found closure with the story.

But aside from that one thing, I enjoyed everything else about it. Would I recommend it? Of course, I will. I’m actually curious as to what other readers think about it, especially about the twist in the end. Those feelings I’ve craved for when I was still in a rut with reading, everything was met with this book and I couldn’t be happier that I am back to reading and that this book didn’t disappoint me. Give this a read, and if you did, let me know what you think.

Bone Cold by Erica Spindler

Surprise surprise! Another Erica Spindler book! Huh! I told you I’m obsessed with her novels. I actually find it hard to resist the urge and the temptation of reading her every book one after another. That’s how much I love her and her writings.

Bone Cold is another spectacular and thrilling read right from the beginning up to the end of course and confusing as well, in a good way. It started out with a girl named Harlow Anastasia Grail being kidnapped at thirteen together with her six-year old friend, Timmy Price. She watched him being smothered and killed by the kidnapper right before her own eyes then he went after her and severed her right pinkie finger. Harlow then found an opportunity and managed to escape and had become Anna North, a thriller novelist who resided in New Orleans. But after twenty-three years of hiding and protecting herself, she had again lived her nightmare when she received a series of letter from a disturbed young girl who claimed to be her fan, a closed friend disappeared and there were also a series of ladies being killed. She then realized that maybe these events may have something to do with her past.

This is another can’t-put-down, page turner book of hers. Seriously, time passed by quickly when I read this. One of the reason why I love Erica Spindler’s books is that she has the ability to capture the reader’s attention and interest right from the very first paragraph of her novel. It just simply gets you right from the very beginning slowly hooking you and spoiling you until you can’t get enough. She really can deliver creep and thrill right into your bones. She really knows her stuff.

Bone Cold reminded me of why Erica Spindler have been my standard when it comes to crime thriller novels. I was reminded why I love her and her works. Bone Cold kept me guessing as to who the culprit was all throughout the book. I love how the author portrayed or should I say ‘played’ Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), that was one of the unexpected things that happened in the book and where my ‘confusion in a good way’ heightened. I also love how the author presented the plot and the numerous twists and turns in the story that were pretty surprising and I did not see coming at all.

Here’s a quote a like from the book: “Life was about taking chances, facing the good … and the bad. It was about birth and death and everything in between.” Nice, right?

Would I recommend this book? Of course I do, why wouldn’t I? it’s a great book that have given me a pleasurable read.

Read it.

All Fall Down by Erica Spindler

When it comes to crime, mystery, thriller books, Erica Spindler’s Dead Run is my basis or standard to determine my thoughts and reaction to another book of the same genre. Yes, that’s how obsessed I am with her and Dead Run specifically. And when I liked someone that much, I may or may not be stalking about their works. I like to research about their list of works and read more of it so here I am about to share my thoughts about another book of hers.

All Fall Down revolves around the story of triplet sisters and touches stories/issues about abuse, cheating, revenge and don’t forget … a serial killer on the loose. Melanie May, is a small town cop who is very determined to go big in her chosen profession even though it means risking her career to convince a great and a very experienced FBI profiler, Connor Sparks, that the series of men dying is no coincidence at all. Driven by her certainty, curiosity and the profile of the suspect described by Connor, she delved into the case until she uncovered and came face-to-face with the horrible truth.

This is another cant-put-down book of Erica Spindler. This book manipulated my thinking big time, it made me guessing all throughout the story. Just when I thought I figured it out only to be confronted in the story that nope, not really. My brain have become kind of ambivalent while reading this, I have come back and forth in my guesses as to who the culprit is which something that really captivated me and held my curiosity until the end which I conclude that the author did a great job of convincing the reader that adds up to the thrill and suspense in the story. Though I feel like the ending is kind of so out of the blue and though it isn’t as chilling and terrifying as the Dead Run, it still is a great and enjoyable read that is hard to put down. A recommended read.

Erica Spindler doesn’t disappoint, so I must say, expect more of her works to be reviewed here.