TESSA TALKS BOOKS

My Review

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton is an uplifting story of grief, love, and overcoming challenges. I just adored this story as it took me through all the emotions I could possibly feel for these characters. It reads wonderfully as a stand-alone, as each book in the trilogy focuses on a different brother.

I loved the two focuses – one on PTSD through Ryker and his struggles and the other on grief and trusting that the recently departed knew what was best for the ones they were leaving behind. Newton handled it all with empathy and plenty of relevant information. It was outside the story’s scope to tackle these subjects too profoundly. However, I still felt very satisfied with each topic of concern’s handling.

The characters are all lovable and relatable – they could be your neighbors and friends. They are also developed authentically down to the three children Bryce has assumed guardianship of. I loved the comic relief the children provided with their kid-type situations throughout the story. I had more than one laugh-out-loud moment. And the romance is a fun, grumpy/sunshine pairing. It is an open door, but I believe it was only once in the book that the door was open.

This was such a lovely feel-good story that I didn’t want to put it down even after there were no more pages to read.

My Review

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The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs is the latest book in the Temperance Brennan series (#22). It can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, even if you haven’t read any other stories in this series. Temperance must head to Turks and Caicos in this installment, presumably to help identify someone who washed up in Montreal but is from the islands. Still, when she arrives, she discovers more significant mysteries afoot – in the form of a serial killer, and her expertise is needed to solve the cases before someone else dies – maybe even Andrew Ryan.

I loved how fast pace this crime thriller read. The action kept me glued to the page as someone important is murdered, and clue after clue proves nothing more than a red herring. The conclusion didn’t take me by complete surprise, but then I suspected everybody at some point in the story, and that’s the only reason why. I loved the convincing red herrings that I eagerly followed. THey were well-placed and convincing.

Temperance continues to be an excellent main character. Independent and not one to take a lot of misogynistic bs, she always delights me with her knowledge and know-how. I met a lot of fascinating new characters – none of them stereotypes and all deliciously layered and flawed – from Temperance down to the most minor character.  

Lastly, I also loved the setting. When isn’t an island setting simply ideal? Never, for me, and this was no exception. It also limited the suspects, almost like a locked room mystery, and I found this particularly appealing. As a matter of fact, this is my favorite installment of the series, and read the fastest for me.

My Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen is a unique psychological thriller that might more aptly be classified as a suspenseful women’s fiction story with thriller elements. But you know what? I loved the unique qualities! This mother/daughter story, told in alternate chapters by Ruth, the mother, and Catherine, the daughter, reads in many ways relatable and is thoroughly compelling.

The story has a prolonged beginning that is kept fast in reading pace due to short chapters and loads of suspense. This is one of the unique qualities. I’ve never differentiated between story and reading pace, but you have to with this novel. Even though the story starts slow, it works in teasers about secrets like a leaky faucet – drip, drip, dripping the secrets in a slow, methodical rhythm that held me thoroughly engrossed. I especially loved Ruth’s back story, where most thriller elements come in. And, if you are wondering, the story does pick up drastically around the 40% mark.

I also enjoyed how totally clever this story is. Subterfuge isn’t derived via dumb luck, as I’ve seen in many stories. Instead, it is very cleverly crafted with subtle slights of hand that, on a psychological level, would work. This fascinated me and demonstrated how well-developed Catherine and Ruth are as characters. Some so many layers and nuances are beautifully written and artfully delivered.

Lastly, that ending! It is a genuinely creepy ending to a thriller, and I adored it!

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