Kaira Sturdivant Rouda

Paul and Mia Strom are determined to have the Best Day Ever. Despite Paul’s lurid past, and even shadier current dealings. Despite Mia’s slowly failing health. Despite the dishonesty (on both their parts) that is like a loose thread, about to unravel them both if either of them picks at it.

A seemingly enviable upper-middle class family struggles with a madman at the helm, manipulating and controlling everyone and everything around him to meet his self-serving agenda.

How far has Paul gone in his pursuit of the perfect life, and can Mia face all this head-on?

Best Day Ever is in the vein of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl in its exploration of perfect-on-the-surface-marriage, and is creepy in a style similar to Caroline Kepnes You. The story is largely told from Paul’s perspective (until the Prologue), and he is not a likable guy. He’s entirely interesting, but a disgusting chauvinist pig. A certifiable narcissist. You know something bad is going to happen. But what? And to whom? And man, did I keep my fingers crossed for someone to toss this guy off a bridge.

The writing is impactful. The characters, particularly Paul, well fleshed out. I hadn’t meant to get so completely wrapped up in this book, but as soon as a few chapters in, I had to know what happens. I’m not entirely satisfied with the ending, but a perfect ending is rare. Everyone will have some feeling about what should have happened, and even if I didn’t get what I was after, the fact that Best Day Ever is well-written enough for me to have a feeling one way or another says everything about how good a story it is.

*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an advance reader copy (ARC).… (mere)

John and Kate are divorced and started a company together and have a daughter together. They have just brought the company through a successful IPO when John's new wife whisks him away for a few days. There is animosity between Kate and the new wife, Tish, who is only 4 years older than John and Kate's daughter.

This was a twisty thriller, but a tad predictable in spots. It alternated between the POV of John, Tish, Kate and Ashlyn (the daughter). The chapters were short and it was a really quick read. I enjoyed the twists, even though it was a bit predictable.… (mere)

Julie is a trophy wife who has just left her husband, Roger, and moved into a new home with their daughter, Jess. A son of the previous owners (Sandi and Doug) is still living in the carriage house but has 2 days to move out.

The book tells the story via alternating viewpoints – Julie, Jess, Roger, Tom (the son living in the carriage house), and Sandi (Tom’s stepmother and Doug’s wife). It starts out “current time” with someone outside the home narrating that someone is in the house with a female who is in danger and then flashes back to 2 days prior. A lot happens over these 2 days.

Julie decides to leave Roger over his philandering ways but Jess does not want to move out of her gated community to a home on the “other side of the tracks” so she decides she will move in with her best friend. However, after a video from Bonnie’s party goes viral, that decision is no longer in play. At the same time, Roger finds himself in legal trouble.

Julie becomes friendly with Sandi but mainly only to ask her assistance in getting Tom to move out. Jess and Tom become friendly until Jess finds out about the angry group that Tom hangs out with and she gets nervous.
It all comes to a head at the end of the weekend with a nice wrap-up.… (mere)

The Kingsley family drama continues in Under the Palms and if you thought Beneath the Surface was twisted, wait until you get your feet in the sand with this one. The brothers are still scheming to prove they should be running the company when Paige decides to plan a retreat for everyone at a high end resort at Laguna Beach. Just as surprises came aboard in the last book, sand blows a few surprises onto land as well in this one. This family seems to always live by keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. Fires threaten the area with the Santa Ana winds blowing in and deaths once again surround the Kingsley family during a time of intense weather where chaos ensues and almost anyone could be the culprit. Faced with trying to keep her status, Paige stops at nothing to prove she once again is the best at running the company and so much for giving others second changes to prove they have changed. Even though blood is thicker than water, that doesn't seem to mean anything and anyone will do anything to see that blood run if it means gaining the power of running the Kingsley company. I am very curious to see what happens in book three with how this one ended. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for the free ebook and tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.… (mere)