The Lake House by Kate Morton is $1.99! This book has all sorts of elements: historical fiction, Gothic mystery, and a family saga. Elyse gave this book a B:
The Lake House had some issues–there is A LOT going on here, tons of threads to keep track of–but it totally sucked me in. Once the novel gets its momentum, it barrels at you like a freight train. Historical fiction and mystery fans might want to put this on hold at the local library, at least while it’s still in hardcover.
This book was gripping from beginning to end. The sense of place and atmosphere were fantastic. I was certainly entertained. However, the story raises some huge questions, both personal ones for the characters and more overarching philosophical and ethical ones, and then never really unpacks them. It was a light book with a heavier story trapped inside it that never quite made it out.
If Only You by Chloe Liese is $1.99! This is book six in the Bergman Brothers series. The series has been highly recommended by the community and their illustrated covers had an upgrade recently. I love the detail!
RECOMMENDED: The Dry by Jane Harper is $2.99! I read this after Elyse’s review and found it to be a quick read. Elyse really enjoyed this mystery and gave it an A in a Lightning Review, there is a content warning though:
The Dry is an excellent, solid mystery. I loved the setting of a rural community struggling through a drought that sets everyone on edge and amplifies tensions.
Everything about When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare worked for me. Everything. Bust out the squee mop, y’all because this review is just going to be a flappy-hands Good Book Noise® mess.
Things this book has:
1. A sexy Scot hero I pictured as Sam Heughan.
2. A heroine who is a naturalist and illustrator.
3. Tons of UST.
4. A completely crazy sauce plot that Dare pulls off flawlessly.
Force of Nature by Jane Harper is $2.99! This may have been the only Harper mystery we haven’t featured on sale, so get this one if you’ve been waiting. It’s the second book in the Aaron Falk series, though it works fine as a self-contained story.
The Lost Man by Jane Harper is $2.99! This is a standalone mystery and a few of us at SBTB HQ love Harper’s mysteries (myself included). They’re a little twisty and extremely atmospheric. Are you a fan?
RECOMMENDED: Something About You by Julie James is $1.99! This is the very first James book I read and it’s the first in the FBI/US Attorney series. James does competence porn really well and this ranks high on my enemies to lovers catnip.
As You Wish by Cary Elwes is $2.99! This is a memoir about the making of The Princess Bride, which is a movie that many love (including myself). Readers say the nostalgia-factor is high and there’s even some discussion regarding Andre the Giant’s epic farts. However, some readers mention that the writing was a bit stilted at times.
RECOMMENDED: Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas is $1.99 at Amazon! So many readers were looking forward to this book when it first released, and Carrie gave it a B+:
Devil in Spring was so delightful that I read it slowly because I had to take frequent squee breaks. I truly cannot sufficiently express how overjoyed this book made me. That said, I don’t think it will be everyone’s catnip, because the main character sometimes seems overly young and naïve, even given her character quirks.
Welcome back to Lightning Reviews, where we give some quick and dirty thoughts on books in a mini-review format. We’ve been away from this feature for a while because of all the RITA reviews, but now we’re back into the swing of things. This trio features a historical romance, some historical fiction with romantic elements, and a thriller!
