Hidden Bodies

I read Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes without reading it's companion title You and was able to follow along perfectly fine.

That being said, I didn't really care for this book. I expected it to be like it's description, "a chilling account of unrelenting, terrifying deceit" a "thriller." I didn't get that vibe. 

The book is written from Joe Goldberg's point a view, a sociopath who basically kills people who makes him angry or get too close to the truth of who he is. He's a whiner who often goes on rants about the way people say things, the way they act. He believes he is smarter and better than the crowd he hangs around with while being extremely envious of them at the same time. 

It took me awhile to find a rhythm in the book because there are a lot of run-on sentences as Joe goes on and on about the things he detests. But  I continued reading and turning the pages and expecting something to change and--God, movies on Lifetime suck-- and it never got better. (That's basically how this book reads). Also, I didn't care for the language the author used, dropping a F-bomb almost every page, if not multiple times a page, and the casual use of the "C-word."

Even when Joe almost gets caught (or thinks he's being caught), it's still not suspenseful.

Anyway, I'd never discourage a reader not to pick up a book. You have to find out for yourself. I'm sure some will LOVE and drool over this. I just happened not to be that person.

The Nest

Despite my lack of entries, I haven't given up reading! Sometimes, life happens, but I decided to pick the reviews back up.

With that being said, I won six new books from the Des Moines Public Library. Much to my surprise, they were all pre-releases not even on the shelves yet! So I'm going to read them all and spoil the endings for everyone. (Just kidding, that'd be rude.)

The first book I selected to read was The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. Although it's not typically what I would pick up for myself, it was a good read.

The Nest follows the lives of the Plumb siblings, comprised of two brothers and two sisters who once their youngest sibling turns 40 will each inherit a large lump some of money. Each have planned and lived their lives around the day they will receive "The Nest."

It made them greedy, selfish and cold. Due to a mistake made by Leo, the oldest of the Plumb siblings, future dreams and plans are ruined and seem out of sight. The other three siblings, feeling entitled, do everything they can to get back what they feel was stripped away from them. Through their struggle and loss of self, they are forced to face their decisions and accept the consequences (but not without trying to avoid them first).

The ability of the author to switch perspectives in this book from each character to the next was what kept me not wanting to put it down. What one thought was dreadful, another thought was beautiful. Sweeney truly captured the essence of personal experiences and how it affects our daily lives and outlooks.

I have to admit, this is one of the first paperback books I've read since being gifted a Kindle. Sweeney used quite a few "big words" that I had never seen before and the convenience of highlighting the word and its definition being instantly shown to me was missed. However, using your context clues, you'll survive just as I did if your vocab isn't up to par.

In conclusion, if you like a book that has drama and a story of letting go and coming into your own, you should give this a read. It will be released on March 22, 2016.

Go the F*ck to Sleep

Okay, so maybe I need some more substance in my life if all I review are bedtime stories. However, this is a bedtime story unlike any other I have heard or read.

Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach is the ultimate evening read for I feel, most parents. I am without children and do not know first hand, but from tales I've heard of parents young and old it can be difficult to get children to lie down and peacefully drift away into slumber. In fact, when I think about the struggle I am reminded of this scene from Hook. 

At a short rhythmic 19 pages, give it a read... just... not to your children.

One Cat, Two Cat, New Cat

It rhymed. It had cats. And I begged my hubby-to-be to read it aloud to me before bed, which he grudgingly did.

One Cat, Two Cat, New Cat depicted the different personalities associated with cats-- playful, energetic, fat and cuddly. It also spoke to my heart as a cat lover who always wants to provide strays with food and shelter much to Craig's pleading that I don't touch pet or feed them. (We live out in the country and sometimes get "dumpers.")

If you're looking for an easy read for the kids that will take less than ten minutes, this book is the ticket. Um, plus, it's totally free to download. I'm not really sure you can go wrong.

The Five Love Languages

I was skeptical when this book was recommended to me, but then heard the author, Gary Chapman, mentioned at a Marriage and Relationships training I attended through work at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. I figured if a research-based institution was willing to discuss the book's content, maybe I should give it a chance.

My husband-to-be and I are happy together. I'd say, except for the occasional misunderstanding, we get along very well. However, even this book was able to help us see further into our relationship.

Although the examples and anecdotes in the book connect Dr. Gary Chapman and his clients at crucial, low times when love didn't seem possible, much of what he had to say applied to our relationship as well.

It was interesting to ponder that although Craig and I love one another, the way we show that love isn't always necessarily perceived due to communication differences. He showers me with compliments (and I try hard not to roll my eyes), but I feel most loved by him when he makes dinner, puts the dishes away or gets me an aspirin when I have a headache. He says, "So, you basically want a slave?" Silly.

And although I try to show love using my love language-- acts of service-- by making his lunch, vacuuming the house and helping with the laundry, he feels more love when I acknowledge him for being a good provider. We also enjoyed participating in Dr. Chapman's activities at the end of each chapter, including asking one another, "How full is your love tank?" Which sounds gross, but isn't if you read the book. 

Whether you feel your relationship is falling apart, or if you're just like me and Craig... the love is alive, but you don't want to lose it, I think The Five Love Languages has wonderful relevance. It can be a bit repetitive is my only complaint but worth the read. 

Abducted.

So, I couldn't stay away from the thriller novels this time around. Especially at an enticing $.99 on the Amazon Deals... I was very pleased with my purchase: Abducted by T.R. Ragan.

Lizzy Gardner, now a grown young woman working as a private investigor, still cannot sleep through the night without reliving her abduction. As a teenager, she was taken off the street in the middle of the night by Spiderman, a serial killer who thinks of himself as some kind of vigilante, ridding the streets of girls whom he considered to be disrespectful or too provocative. Lizzy was able to escape, but not before watching him torture a number of girls right in front of her. The police believed they had the real Spiderman incarcerated, despite Lizzy's claims they had the wrong guy.

Now, years later-- he's back, and he wants revenge.

Lizzy must find Spiderman before he kills more innocent girls, and his taunts draw her closer to him. With the help of her past high school boyfriend, Jared, a now handsome-in-uniform FBI agent, Jessica, her assistant who has secrets of her own and Hayley, a girl with enough troubles of her own who takes it upon herself to help Lizzy hunt down the man hunting her.

T.R. Ragan draws you in with the mystery, and keeps you there with Lizzy's determination, fear and a little bit of sexual tension between her and Jared.

It was a page turner, but a warning to the weak-stomached-- obviously, there is a lot of torturous, grueling situations in this book, as with most serial killer themed novels. Additionally, there is some sadistic content. If that's not a subject you can handle, don't bother picking this book up.

I was definitely excited to find out there is a Lizzy Garner series. I am in the middle of the second book, "Dead Weight." Look for that review coming soon.

Faking It

Although my preference is thrillers and crime mysteries, every once in a while I soften it up. "Faking It", written by Elisa Lorello, was a funny take on a not-too-over-the-top-trashy novel.

Andi, a virgin, had just broken it off with her fiance after she found him in bed with another woman. As if she wasn't self-conscious before about her body and sexuality... Needless to say, the after effects of the situation amplified existing nerves. Then one night, she's out with a few co-workers and spots Devin, a male escort whose charming behavior and super-hot looks give Andi mixed feelings of pleasure and disgust. 

We'll cut to the chase of the plot here-- Devin "works" for women who have lots of money and only value having his hottness on their arm at public functions. Poor Mr. Gorgeous wishes they enjoyed his company also because of his intellects. Um, except he's limited in that area. And Andi, wants to be sexy and without inhibitions not only to herself-- but to other men. Throwing caution to the wind, the two draw up a "contract." Andi will teach Devin how to write and speak like a real gentleman, and in return he will teach her the ways of her own body.

At this point, you think it's predictable. You've seen "The Ugly Truth" with Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl, and you think you know the remaining story line in this novel. But here's the deal...

So give it a chance! I laughed, I cringed at the awkwardness and might have even been inspired by Andi's journey.  A book on sex, love and becoming more than people think you can be... What's not to enjoy?