Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks

My rating: 2.5

Jessica signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. Little does she know that this study will gradually pull her in to become more personal and she soon will wonder just how much Dr. Shields knows.

This had a very promising unique story line and I was intrigued. I also loved that Jess was a make-up artist and there was a lot of attention to fashion but, that could only keep me enamored for so long. I didn't care about the characters and the plot quickly turned implausible. I think I am tired of these thriller suspense novels where the female characters don't have a brain.

The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

My rating: 4.8

Bhima had just been fired from her 20 year job as a servant for a woman who she thought of as family. After this difficult parting, Bhima is struggling to make a living for herself and her grandaughter. This captures their daily life in the slums of India. Bhima makes an unexpected relationship with Chitra and Sunitra as well as an older crotchy woman named Pavarti.

This is the 2nd part to The Space Between Us and again, Umrigar doesn't disappoint in her ability to capture the poverty of India, the struggles of all women and trying to make a life as well as friendships. Such beautiful writing and powerful characters. 

A Meal In Winter by Herbert Mingarelli

My Rating: 4.9

Three German soldiers in the middle of winter in Poland. They will either have to execute Jews or, be sent out to hunt them down. Their Commander sends the three men out into the frozen Polish countryside to bring back a Jew for execution.

This was such beautiful writing. It flowed so easily I could have devoured it all in one sitting but I wanted to savor ever sentence. The descriptions of the winter made me feel cold to my bones. This made me wonder how I would feel being in any number of their positions. War is not a happy story but this was a delight. This was very different and yet somehow reminiscent of City of Thieves.

The Girl Who Was Taken By Charles Donlea

My Rating: 4.7

Two high school seniors, Nicole and Megan, are at a beach party when they go missing. Megan escapes but Nicole is never heard from again. Livia, Nicole's older sister and a pathologist, does an autopsy on a young man connected to Nicole.

This twisted thriller moves at a fast pace and kept me enthralled  This is a disturbing and original storyline. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

After The Fire by Will Hill

My Rating: 2.5

Moonbeam is raised in the Holy Church of the Lord's Legion cult in Texas. There is a fire and it flashes back and forth between "before" the fire and "after" the fire.

There really isn't a story here as you know there was a fire from the title. This is just Moonbeam flashing back and forth between telling what life was like in the Cult to the psychologist in the pysch ward.  The only "suspense" if you want to call it that is what will happen to her after the Psych hospital. I felt that this was VERY long and drawn out and absolutely nothing happens. I know I am in the minority but I would not recommend.