ARC Review: I'll Never Tell by Catherine McKenzie

*I received an advance readers copy of this book from the publisher for review.  Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for this review copy!  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.  I am an Amazon affiliate and I may receive a small compensation if you make a purchase through one of my links.

I'll Never Tell

by Catherine McKenzie

Publication Date:  June 1, 2019

by Lake Union Publishing

Genre:  Mystery, Thriller

Pages: 368

Source:  ARC from publisher

What happened to Amanda Holmes?
Twenty years ago, she was found bludgeoned in a rowboat at the MacAllister family’s Camp Macaw. No one was ever charged with the crime.
Now, after their parents’ sudden deaths, the MacAllister siblings return to camp to read the will and decide what to do with the prime real estate the camp occupies. Ryan needs to sell. Margaux hasn’t made up her mind. Mary believes in leaving well enough alone. Kate and Liddie—the twins—have opposing views. And Sean Booth, the groundskeeper, just hopes he still has a home when all is said and done.
But it’s more complicated than a simple vote. The will stipulates that until they unravel the mystery of what happened to Amanda, they can’t settle the estate. Any one of them could have done it, and each one is holding a piece of the puzzle. Will they work together to finally discover the truth, or will their secrets finally tear the family apart?

An intriguing mystery, a summer camp setting, and plenty of dysfunctional family dynamics make I'll Never Tell an enjoyable and entertaining read.

I knew I wanted to read I'll Never Tell when I read the synopsis and it mentioned the story was set in a summer camp. Summer camp settings just seem to add a creepy environment to a story.  While this story isn't really too creepy, it's definitely a great mystery/thriller.     

This story is told from several perspectives, those of: the MacAllister siblings, Sean (the groundskeeper), and certain chapters are told from Amanda's perspective twenty years prior.  Multiple perspectives usually tend to confuse and overwhelm me, but I had no problem following along with the many narratives in this book.  I loved reading from all of these point of views, especially Amanda's perspective.  I also loved the short chapters in this book which I think made this a much faster read for me.

I really liked Catherine McKenzie's writing style, and I thought all the characters were pretty well fleshed out, with some being more relatable and likeable than others. My favorite character was Margeaux, who seemed to be the most reasonable and grounded of the MacAllister siblings.    

I'll Never Tell was a really good mystery with interesting characters and and an intriguing plot.  The mystery in this book kept me guessing, but I was just hoping for a little more from the ending.  It felt a little rushed to me.  

Overall, I'll Never Tell was a good mystery/thriller that I would recommend, and I look forward to reading more from Catherine McKenzie.  

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Blog Tour: All The Greys On Greene Street by Laura Tucker ~Spotlight + Review~

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for All The Greys On Greene Street by Laura Tucker!  

Find out more about the book below!

*I received an advance readers copy of this book for review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

All The Greys On Greene Street

by Laura Tucker; illustrated by Kelly Murphy

Publication Date:  June 4, 2019

by Viking Books for Young Readers
Pages:  320
Genre:  Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Rating:  4/5 Stars
Add to Goodreads

Synopsis:

SoHo, 1981. Twelve-year-old Olympia is an artist--and in her neighborhood, that's normal. Her dad and his business partner Apollo bring antique paintings back to life, while her mother makes intricate sculptures in a corner of their loft, leaving Ollie to roam the streets of New York with her best friends Richard and Alex, drawing everything that catches her eye.
Then everything falls apart. Ollie's dad disappears in the middle of the night, leaving her only a cryptic note and instructions to destroy it. Her mom has gone to bed, and she's not getting up. Apollo is hiding something, Alex is acting strange, and Richard has questions about the mysterious stranger he saw outside. And someone keeps calling, looking for a missing piece of art. . . .
Olympia knows her dad is the key--but first, she has to find him, and time is running out.

AMAZON│BARNES AND NOBLE│BOOK DEPOSITORY

Laura Tucker has coauthored more than twenty books, including two New York Times bestselling memoirs. She grew up in New York City around the same time as Olympia, and now lives in Brooklyn with her daughter and husband; on Sunday mornings, you can find her at the door of Buttermilk Channel, one of their two restaurants. She is a cat person who cheats with dogs. All the Greys on Greene Street is her first novel.

All The Greys On Greene Street, the debut novel by Laura Tucker, takes place in SoHo, New York City in 1981, and revolves around 12 year old Olympia as she tries to find out why her father ran off, while struggling to cope with her mother's depression. 

I loved many of the characters in this book, especially Olympia.  I really felt for her and all she had to deal with throughout the story.  Her father left and she doesn't know why, her mother doesn't get out of bed because she is so depressed, and Olympia is left feeling abandoned.  She loves to draw and I loved how art and creativity were a big part of this book.  Olympia expresses herself through her art and I think her creativity and drawings help her to process many of her emotions.  I also loved the close friendships she had with Richard and Alex.  Her friendships helped her cope better with the chaos in her life.  

I really liked the setting of this story.  Soho in the early 1980's seemed like such an interesting place and time, especially the art scene.  I loved how the author described the feel of the city and the creative atmosphere at that time.  There were interesting facts about art throughout the story that I found fascinating.  I also loved the artwork by Kelly Murphy that was featured on certain pages throughout the book.  

This story was difficult to read at times because of the serious situations that take place.  After Olympia's dad runs off, she is left living with her mother who hasn't left her bed in over two weeks because of her depression.  I have struggled with depression all my life so it was hard to read about what Olympia went through just trying to get her mother out of bed.  I felt for Olympia and her mother, but I really did not like how her mother neglected her or the way she treated her.  I know firsthand how destructive depression can be, but it was really difficult for me to like her mother.  I also found it difficult to like her father because he basically abandoned her too.  I just felt so bad for Olympia throughout the story. 

This was a slower paced read, and it took me a little while to fully immerse myself into the story.  However, as I got to know more about the characters, especially Olympia, I couldn't stop reading and I flew through the last half of the book.  Overall, I found this to be an engrossing and touching read, and I definitely recommend checking it out (I do think this would be better for older children though, because of the difficult subject matter).  I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

⭐⭐⭐⭐   

________________________________

WEEK ONE

May 27 – Pop The Butterfly Reads – Review + Creative Instagram Picture

May 28 – The Busy B. Creative – Author Guest Post

May 29 – Adventures thru Wonderland – Moodboard

May 30 – Night Owl Book Café – Review

May 31 – Book Fidelity – Review

WEEK TWO

June 3 – Paper Procrastinators – Creative Instagram Picture + Blog Content

June 4 – Just Commonly – Author Guest Post: The Art Scene in NYC from 80s to the Millennium

June 5 – Library Lady’s Kid Lit – Review

June 6 – Tara’s Book Addiction – Review + Creative Instagram Picture

Lying Next To Me by Gregg Olsen Nerd Blast ~Spotlight + Giveaway~

Lying Next To Me

by Gregg Olsen
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
by Thomas & Mercer

Synopsis:

No matter what you see, no matter what you’ve heard, assume nothing.
Adam and Sophie Warner and their three-year-old daughter are vacationing in Washington State’s Hood Canal for Memorial Day weekend. It’s the perfect getaway to unplug—and to calm an uneasy marriage. But on Adam’s first day out on the water, he sees Sophie abducted by a stranger. A hundred yards from shore, Adam can’t save her. And Sophie disappears.
In a nearby cabin is another couple, Kristen and Connor Moss. Unfortunately, beyond what they’ve heard in the news, they’re in the dark when it comes to Sophie’s disappearance. For Adam, at least there’s comfort in knowing that Mason County detective Lee Husemann is an old friend of his. She’ll do everything she can to help. She must.
But as Adam’s paranoia about his missing wife escalates, Lee puts together the pieces of a puzzle. The lives of the two couples are converging in unpredictable ways, and the picture is unsettling. Lee suspects that not everyone is telling the truth about what they know—or they have yet to reveal all the lies they’ve hidden from the strangers they married.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for GREGG OLSEN'S NOVELS

“Gregg Olsen's Envy is a riveting page-turner that I could not put down. Like Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why, Envyexplores a serious topic--cyberbullying--in a fantastic, well-crafted story. Can't wait for the next Empty Coffinnovel!” ―Nancy Holder, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked saga, Dear Bully contributor

“Gregg Olsen's Envy offers an interesting view on the devastating effects bullying can have, not only on the individuals involved from both sides, but on the community at large.” ―Bree Despain, author of The Dark Divine trilogy

"Sure to spice up your reading repertoire!" ―GirlsLife.com

"Olsen's characters jump to life and his plots are so intricate you never see the killer coming….a definite hit!" ―RT Book Reviews

“Dark and addictive…” ―Jordan Dane, critically acclaimed author of In the Arms of Stone Angels

“Olsen writes with authority, drawing inspiration from actual headlines and crime…” ―Publishers Weekly

"WICKEDLY CLEVER! TWISTED." ―Lisa Gardner

"OLSEN WRITES RAPID-FIRE PAGE-TURNERS." ―The Seattle Times

"GRABS YOU BY THE THROAT." ―Kay Hooper 

Throughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, Olsen has written nine nonfiction books, nine novels, a novella, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.

The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Dateline NBC, William Shatner's Aftermath, Deadly Women on Investigation Discovery, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News, CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen's Snapped, Court TV's Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E's Biography.

In addition to television and radio appearances, he has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People,Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.

The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington's Secretary of State for the book's contribution to Washington state history and culture. His Young Adult novel, Envy, was the official selection of Washington for the National Book Festival.

Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife, twin daughters, three chickens, Milo (an obedience school dropout cocker spaniel) and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).

PHOTO CONTENT FROM GREGG OLSEN

WEBSITE│TWITTER│GOODREADS│FACEBOOK│INSTAGRAM

--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

- 1 Winner will receive a $25 Dollar PayPal/Amazon Gift Card.

ENDS: JUNE 11, 2019

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Blog Tour: Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small ~Spotlight + Giveaway~

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small!  

Please see about the book below and enter the giveaway!

Bright Burning Stars
by A.K. Small
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

Synopsis:

Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.

Book Links

Goodreads│Amazon│Book Depository│B&N│iTunes│Kobo│Google Books

A.K. Small is thrilled for her debut novel, BRIGHT BURNING STARS, to come out May 21,2019 through publisher Algonquin Young Readers. Her talent for writing and passion for classical ballet fuse together in this novel and earned A.K.Small the honor of an Entertainment Weekly review.

In addition to BRIGHT BURNING STARS, A.K. Small spends time on short stories. Her short story, Anthrocon, 2017 was just nominated for a Pushcart prize by the Bellevue Literary Review. Other stories such as the Flour Baby and The Interior Designer were also nominated or runner-up to prizes.

She also ran a column titled, "A French Girl's View Du Monde" at Barrelhouse Magazine.

A.K. Small graduated from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2009 with an MFA in fiction. When she's not reading her favorite authors (Rainbow Rowell, Angie Thomas, Anna Gavalda, Jandy Nelson, Ann Hood, Sue Miller, Anais Nin, Tayari Jones, Joyce Carol Oates, Richard Wright, and J.R.R. Tolkien, to name a few!), she's studying her favorite dancers: Sylvie Guillem, Noella Pontois, Marie-Agnes Gillot, and Aurelie Dupont.

A.K. Small grew up near the Sacré Coeur in Paris and married her Tobagonian soulmate. She has three gorgeous daughters and owns a min-chi named Dallas.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

Prize: Win (1) of (2) copy of BRIGHT BURNING STARS by A.K. Small

(US/CAN Only)

Start Date: May 13th2019

End Date: May 27th2019

aRafflecopter giveaway

https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2019/03/tour-schedule-bright-burning-stars-by.html

HUGE February/March Book Outlet Haul! | Part One

Book buying ban?!  What book buying ban?!  I definitely have a problem.  Here's part one of my huge February/March Book Outlet book haul.  Now I'm really going on a book buying ban and staying away from Book Outlet's website!  🙍🙅 Check out what I bought below!

Girl At The Grave by Teri Bailey Black

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.09

Contagion by Erin Bowman

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.99

The Truth Lies Here by Lindsey Klingele

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.99

S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

List Price: $18.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.99

The Case For Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $6.49

The Towering Sky by Katharine McGee

List Price: $18.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.49

Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.99

Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.99

A Wrinkle in Time Graphic Novel by Madeleine L'Engle

Illustrated by Hope Larson

List Price: $15.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.73

New Fears 2, edited by Mark Morris

List Price: $14.95 | Book Outlet Price: $3.73

The Chrysalis by Brendan Deneen

List Price: $24.99 | Book Outlet Price: $4.66

The Unfortunates by Kim Liggett

List Price: $18.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.73

Heart of Ash by Kim Liggett

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.73

How To Slay The Buffy Way

List Price: $19.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.51

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

List Price: $26.99 | Book Outlet Price: $6.02

Our Kind Of Cruelty by Araminta Hall

List Price: $26.00 | Book Outlet Price: $1.89

A Noise Downstairs by Lindwood Barclay

List Price: $26.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.51

Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquist

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $4.15

Like Never And Always by Ann Aguirre

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.30

Now You See Her by Lisa Leighton & Laura Stropki

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $4.15

The Truth Beneath The Lies by Amanda Searcy

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.73

Notes From My Captivity by Kathy Parks

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.09

Poor Little Dead Girls by Lizzie Friend

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $4.66

White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

List Price: $16.00 | Book Outlet Price: $4.66

Affinity by Sarah Waters

List Price: $16.00 | Book Outlet Price: $5.51

Berserker by Emmy Laybourne

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.73

Attack of the 50 Foot Wallflower by Christian McKay Heidicker

List Price: $18.99 | Book Outlet Price: $4.66

Twisted Summer by Willo Davis Roberts

List Price: $10.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.30

When Life Gives You Demons by Jennifer Honeybourn

List Price: $17.99 | Book Outlet Price: $5.09

The Likeness by Tana French

List Price: $17.00 | Book Outlet Price: $4.66

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

List Price: $15.99 | Book Outlet Price: $3.73

Some of these books are still available on www.bookoutlet.com!

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