Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

My Rating: 4.8

It is in the 1960's in North Carolina with two stories unfolding.  One is of Kya Clark, the Marsh Girl, who has had her family abandon her and she is forced to raise herself.  The other is of the discover of the dead body if Chase Andrews.

This is a quiet and beautiful read. It captures the marsh, the creatures and living life alone. The beauty of the gulls, the sand and discovering the smallest of creatures. It unfolds in such beauty that you don't want it to end...or for man to encroach on that peace. It is a coming of age story that captures live in the Carolinas. Loved it!

Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards

My Rating: 2.3

Do you feel awkward at networking events? Do you wonder what your date really thinks of you? Do you wish you could decode people? Apparently, you need to learn the science of people.

This seemed more geared towards someone who is completely lost when it comes to reading people and their facial expressions...like COMPLETELY lost. I don't know anyone who is this inept at reading people. Maybe I have exceptional interpersonal skills (NOT!) but even when I got others who I viewed as less socially adept to take the quiz in this book, everyone scored very well. This book seemed very rudimentary without anything groundbreaking. Overall, this felt quite fluffy with advice like "don't force yourself to do things you don't want to do" and not anything amazing. 

The Banker's Wife by Cristina Alger

My Rating: 4.5

Matthew and Annabel are living in Geneva for Matthew's job that is working as a banker at Swiss United.  A couple boards a private plane bound for Geneva, when the plane disappears. It's wreckage is uncovered in the Alps with Matthew as one of the passengers.

Marina is a journalist who is engaged to Grant. Marina's future father-in-law is running for President. As she starts exploring the story of Swiss United, she realizes that she is disturbing things that some want to be left alone.

Love that this is filled with strong smart female characters! You get pulled into the world of offshore banking and the twists of this mystery/thriller. The writing is not nobel prize worthy but it was a fun entertaining read and I would read more by Alger.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

My Rating: 4.9

What does every couple do to spice up their marriage.....agree to murder someone of course! This is told by the husband about his wife Millicent and their two children Rory and Jeana...and how they decide to spice up their marriage.

Oh wow, my head is still spinning with the ending. WOW! Do not read too much about this. Just read it.  Hold on for the ride and enjoy the twists!

Emma In The Night by Wendy Walker

My Rating: 4.7

Three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared. When Cass shows up on her mother's doorstep without her sister Emma, a game of cat and mouse ensues.

This psychological thriller had lots of layers. Every chapter got more twisted as it revealed their history and the depravity of the characters. While I knew that Cass couldn't be trusted, I didn't see the ending or the many twists that happened. Loved it! This was great on audio.

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

My Rating: 2.8

1986 during the Cold War, Marie as a young black woman, is finally given her chance with the FBI to make a name for herself. She is given an assignment to undermine Thomas Sankara, the charismatic revolutionary president of Burkina Faso whose Communist ideology has made him a target for American intervention

This was a unique twist in that this was written as Marie writing the story to her twin boys along with the unfolding of her being an FBI agent / spy. I think this started off with a lot of promise and then quickly dwindled from there. It had too many different agendas and dragged on too long for me.