I love the way this book is described on Goodreads:

"Over 2 million copies of his books in print. The first and only author to win back-to-back Edgars for Best Novel. Every book a New York Times bestseller.

Now after five years, John Hart is back with a stunning literary thriller.

Imagine:

A boy with a gun waits for the man who killed his mother.

A troubled detective confronts her past in the aftermath of a brutal shooting.

After thirteen years in prison, a good cop walks free. But for how long?

And deep in the forest, on the altar of an abandoned church, the unthinkable has just happened…

This is a town on the brink. This is a road with no mercy.

After five years, John Hart returns with Redemption Road, his most powerful story yet."

Redemption Road is one of the best books I have read this year.  John Hart just simply knows how to write and I'm so glad to have another one of his titles on my bookshelves.  He develops characters, whether male or female, young or old, villainous, flawed or admirable, that all come across as genuine and real.  Redemption Road is a real page turner and kept me in suspense.  When you are still surprised at the twists and turns even through the epilogue, that is a great book in my opinion.  This is an absolute must read.  

I received a copy of Redemption Road through Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.  

If you haven't read Brad Meltzer before, there is no time like the present!  The House of Secrets is one fantastic read.  

When Hazel Nash was a young girl, her father Jack Nash posed a riddle to her about Benedict Arnold and his Bible.  Jack Nash was the beloved host of The House of Secrets, a television conspiracy show, not unlike Meltzer's own Decoded tv show.  

Now Hazel is an adult waking up in a hospital with more questions than answers.  She was involved in a car crash that injured her brother, killed her father and left her with a devastating brain injury.  She can't remember much of anything when an FBI agent shows up in her hospital room with photos from a gruesome murder that the agent believes might be connected to Hazel and her family.  The murdered man was wearing a coat belonging to Hazel's father and also just so happened to have Benedict's Arnold's Bible stuffed into his chest.  This sets Hazel on a quest to figure out what she has forgotten, who she was and as the bodies pile up, who is behind this madness.  

Believe me, you won't want to put this book down.  Full of suspense along with the perfect blend of character development and plot twists, The House of Secrets should be on your must read list.  I hope there are plans for more books featuring Hazel Nash.  She was a great leading lady.

I recommend following Brad Meltzer on Facebook and Twitter.  He posts some great things and in addition to being a talented writer, he seems like a genuinely nice guy.  

I received this book courtesy of Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

I consider myself a fan of Michelle Moran and have read many of her novels.  I find her work to be well researched but also very compelling and readable.  Mata Hari's Last Dance provides a glimpse into the glamorous life of the exotic dancer along with insight into the accusations of her acting as a spy.  

While I enjoyed the book, I felt that the character of Mata Hari didn't provide as much depth or interest as some of the other women that Michelle Moran has written of in the past.  It seemed her life was sort of a repeat from one day to the next, but I did appreciate learning more about that time period and her life in general.  Mata Hari was able to create a persona and celebrity basically through her own invention.  The author does an excellent job of immersing you in the time period and locations throughout the book.  

I always look forward to reading more of Michelle Moran's works and definitely put her on my favorite authors list.  

I received this book courtesy of Touchstone in exchange for an honest review.  

Every bibliophile would be intrigued by the description for The Invisible Library, "An adventure series featuring stolen books, secret agents and forbidden societies."  I, of course, couldn't wait to read it.  

Irene, the agent for the Invisible Library, just completed a mission with a harrowing escape only to be immediately sent out again to retrieve a stolen book but this time with Kai, an new assistant for her to mentor.  Irene and Kai encounter all manner of beings in the chaos-infested world they enter, including vampires, fae, werewolves, zeppelins and dashing detectives, during their quest to retrieve a stolen copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales.  Irene quickly determines that everything isn't what it seems in this new world.  

The Invisible Library is fast paced and action packed.  The author does an excellent job of developing the characters and plot line.  I would recommend this book to fans of the Book of Life series.  I also think it would appeal to Young Adult readers. 

I received this book courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

I've Got Sand in All the Wrong Places was exactly the right book for my summer read.  

The mother/daughter team of Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella are the perfect compliment to each other.  I found both of their writings throughout the book to be heartfelt and genuine.  Some excerpts were lighthearted observations and others provided insightful life wisdom in a relatable way.  My favorite passage was when Lisa compared our lives to candles and preserving our flame.  It really spoke to me about how important priorities are in life.  I laughed numerous times throughout the book and also felt compassion for what both Francesca and Lisa experienced when Francesca was attacked in New York.  I appreciated the honesty in the writing and look forward to reading more work by these two savvy ladies.

I received this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet thoroughly transported me back in time to 1904 and Coney Island.  

Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet is a story not just about one or two main characters, but an entire cast that is truly diverse and well written.  Kitty Hayward arrives in Coney Island somewhat by accident and is in dire need of some friendship.  Zeph runs Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet as well as a tavern for the all the Unusuals on Coney Island.  Nazan Celik has read about all the treasures inside the Curiosity Cabinet and convinces her date Spencer to accompany her there.  Spencer is the son of the wealthy owner of Dreamland, which is the newly opened amusement park on Coney Island.  All their paths eventually cross, along with some other very memorable characters, as they find Coney Island under attack by a deadly plague.  What will happen to these sideshow characters as they fight to save themselves, their friends and Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet itself.  

This was such a unique story and I really enjoyed it.  Certain themes draw me in and the characters in this story were so well written, I couldn't put it down.  I was so impressed with how well the author handled such a large cast and how I came to care about each one.  Also, the descriptions throughout the book are so vivid and realistically detailed that you truly can envision how Coney Island might have looked in 1904.  

I received this book courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  
  

Looking for the perfect beach read?  Pick up Sunshine Beach by Wendy Wax.  

Avery, Nicole, and Maddie were first introduced in the novel Ten Beach Road when they all met as a result of having lost their life savings in the same Ponzi scheme.  They joined forces to renovate the home at Ten Beach Road and in the process were cast in a reality show known as Do Over.  Now, a few years later, Maddie's daughter Kyra thinks she may have just found the perfect subject for their next renovation project, an abandoned hotel on the beach known as Sunshine Hotel.  Of course, there are obstacles in the way of the project and a disappearance and murder to solve as well.  

As usual, in turning the last page, I'm hungry for more stories about Avery, Nicole, Maddie and Kyra.  I always enjoy this series and highly recommend them as enjoyable reads.  They are perfect for summer and the beach, or just an everyday escape.  

I received this book courtesy of Berkeley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.