October 2018 Wrap Up

1. Escaping From Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper #3) , Kerri Maniscalco 3/5

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly. But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?

I wasn't that impressed with this book and that hurts to say. I absolutely adored the second book so my expectations were already high. In my review of the second book, I praised the author, for no love triangles. Love triangles are my pet peeve when it comes to books. Unfortunately, there is a love triangle. It felt like none of the characters acted like themselves in this book. Audrey's Uncle who has been supportive/progressive became controlling of the main character, Audrey Rose didn't really act like herself, Thomas became kind of a doormat...At the same time I understand why people loved the book. There is a good murder mystery but the characters distracted me from the real book. I found myself skimming a lot and I thought I would fly through this book. Maybe this book was setting up for character development in the fourth/final book but still.

2. The Kissing Quotient, Helen Hoang 4.5/5

“All the things that make you different make you perfect.” 

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

Ugh, this book was adorable. This is the pickup book that I needed to read. I didn't know what this book was about when I picked it up. All I knew is that it was becoming popular and I decided to read it. I was a little hesitant when I read the synopsis and at the beginning of the book. Of course, the characters are always deeper than what they seem. There is always a tragic backstory of how they became who they are. The relationship was adorable, it takes you on a roller coaster and the ending was perfect. 

3. Bellewether, Susanna Kearsley 3.8/5

“Every family needs its own historian, someone to guard the stories, yes? Or else they will be lost.”

It's late summer, war is raging, and families are torn apart by divided loyalties and deadly secrets. In this complex and dangerous time, a young French Canadian lieutenant is captured and billeted with a Long Island family, an unwilling and unwelcome guest. As he begins to pitch in with the never-ending household tasks and farm chores, Jean-Philippe de Sabran finds himself drawn to the daughter of the house. Slowly, Lydia Wilde comes to lean on Jean-Philippe, true soldier and gentleman, until their lives become inextricably intertwined. Legend has it that the forbidden love between Jean-Philippe and Lydia ended tragically, but centuries later, the clues they left behind slowly unveil the true story.

I love Susanna Kearsley. I know exactly what the story is going to be like. I generally enjoy all of her books and understand their specific style. Susanna Kearsley is not for everyone and that's okay. I normally don't agree with Goodreads reviews. I had to agree with most of them on this one though. While this book was interesting, not much happened. It felt like the plot was leading up to this huge ending and it kind of fell flat. I didn't really fall in love with the main couple. I didn't feel like they truly got to know each other before falling in love. We also don't get to see much of their relationship anyway. The characters were great and well-developed but the ending could have been so much better. 

DFTBA
-AB