An Anonymous Girl Review

Title:  An Anonymous Girl
Author:  Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Genre:  Psychological Thriller
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  Jan. 8, 2019
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  4 Obsessive Hearts

*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.



Synopsis:
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Review:

Jessica Farris seizes an unexpected opportunity to earn some extra money by showing up at an appointment for participants in a morality and ethics survey - one that was meant for another girl.  Jessica takes her place and becomes Subject 52.  Upon subsequent survey sessions, Jessica's involvement progresses from answering questions to following precise instructions and venturing out into questionable real life situations, causing her to question the morality of what she's being asked to do.  Meantime, her curiosity drives her to start searching for information on the illusive Dr. Shields  - an action that brings about a game of cat and mouse, leaving readers to figure out who's playing whom?  

I highly advise going into this thriller blind.  Do yourself a favor, and don't read spoilers.  The beauty of this story is in the slow development and peeling back of layers, revealing the true nature of characters and raising the stakes chapter by chapter.  Through dual narration, readers are lured into menacing mind games fueled by obsession and paranoia.  At times, I felt like I was fighting my way out of a dark maze trying to determine who was telling the truth and who was lying.  While I did figure it out, I still wasn't one hundred percent sure I was right until the end.  An Anonymous Girl is an addictive, creepy thriller that is hard to put down.  The authors have created a dark, tense atmospheric setting that reeks of impending doom.  Flawed characters sporting disguises of normalcy keep readers working to unmask the identity of the real villain.  I greatly enjoyed the originality and delivery of the plot line and look forward to more from these authors.  A Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Obsessive Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

Ravensong Review

Title:  Ravensong
Series:  Green Creek, #2
Author:  T.J. Klune
Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press
Release Date:  July 31, 2018
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  4 Magical PackPackPack Hearts

Synopsis:
Gordo Livingstone never forgot the lessons carved into his skin. Hardened by the betrayal of a pack who left him behind, he sought solace in the garage in his tiny mountain town, vowing never again to involve himself in the affairs of wolves.

It should have been enough.

And it was, until the wolves came back, and with them, Mark Bennett. In the end, they faced the beast together as a pack… and won.

Now, a year later, Gordo has found himself once again the witch of the Bennett pack. Green Creek has settled after the death of Richard Collins, and Gordo constantly struggles to ignore Mark and the song that howls between them.

But time is running out. Something is coming. And this time, it’s crawling from within.

Some bonds, no matter how strong, were made to be broken.

Review:

Ravensong is a stunning, intense addition to the Green Creek series, and once again, I find myself at a loss for words to adequately express the experience of reading one of these books.  Klune's unique singsong voice and lyrical style are hypnotic, calling to something within me like a siren - drawing me into this deceptively simple feeling yet complex story and world.  His books are raw, gutsy, and oh-so-emotional - an experience that will drain you while leaving you ravenous for more.

Klune has spun another magical tale in this fantasy world of shifters, witches, packs, Alphas, Omegas, and yes, humans.  While a lot of backstory is woven into this book through some early flashbacks, do yourself a favor and read Wolfsong before venturing into Ravensong.  There's so much world building, story, and character relationship development to be found there.  Both books are truly an experience that I promise are unlike anything you've ever read before.

Ravensong defies genres (as did Wolfsong), refusing to be boxed in.  It's so full and more and bigger than life and yet so real.  It can be labelled fantasy, paranormal, m/m, second-chance romance, but more than anything else . . . I'd call it epic.  It's dark and edgy with plotlines growing, creeping, clinging, and intertwining, driving characters and readers to a state of urgent frenzy.  Like an out of control train on a collision course, the emotional complications and consequences of family threaten to implode the Bennett pack, taking Gordo and others down with them . . . even as outside forces threaten their homes, lives, and very existence.  Broken bonds and promises fester making it difficult for old wounds to heal leaving Gordo and Mark in limbo - unable to stand together and in danger of loosing everything if they don't.

Ravensong is Gordo and Mark's story . . . and so much more.  I wouldn't call it a romance as much as a love story with all the heartbreak and pain that can accompany fickle fate and love-gone-wrong.  It's not pretty, sweet, or kind.  But there is needed comic relief through some awesome support characters.  Be warned - Once you enter this world, you'll lose yourself in the story, setting, and characters, burning through pages until the climax and conclusion explode on the final pages bringing resolution to characters and readers with a blockbuster ending . . . and the perfect setup for book 3!  Bring it on!  An absolutely, without-a-doubt Must Read!

My Rating:  4 Magical PackPackPack Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

IWSG: What's in your office?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a website media business with affiliates to enhance our service to visitors. We are a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support. Visit IWSG to learn more about this great writing community!  

IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month. It's a great writer's resource that I'm sure you'll find well worth your time. Be sure to stop by and visit with other IWSG Members.  

Join me in thanking this month's awesome co-hosts:  J.H. Moncrieff,  Tonja Drecker,  Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!

IWSG Question of the Month:  What are five objects we'd find in your writing space?

The first objects that come to mind are all the obvious ones - like pens, paper, computer, printer, etc., - aka writing supplies.  However, without a doubt, first and foremost for me are BOOKS!  You'll find all kinds of books in my office.  Books on writing, publishing, editing, marketing, motivation - you name it, I've probably got it!  And then there are books and keepsakes from some of my favorite series, authors, and friends - things I treasure and showcase proudly and pull off the shelf to read or skim through over and over again.  Books with memories and meaning and encouragement all bound within well-worn covers.  So yeah, shelves and shelves of books.  

What else?  Well, since I almost always have a glass of sweet iced tea (Southern girl here!) or a cup of coffee in hand when I'm writing (choice depending on my mood, time of day, and the season), you'll always find a beverage of some sort on my desk.  And there's my comfy desk chair that I mention because I freakin' love it.  After spending way too many years in a hard, back-killer chair, I finally treated myself to a big, super-comfy, ergonomically efficient, simply To-Die-For desk chair - I could sleep in this baby!

So, books, beverage, chair, writing essentials and . . . Oh!  A dog bed for my grand-dog to use when she stays over - although she seems to prefer curling up under my desk with her head resting against my feet.  I often have her for a week or two at a time while my son is traveling for work.  Jason rescued this little sweetheart when she was an abused and severely malnourished puppy (5 yrs. ago).  He fostered and then adopted her after falling under her sweet spell.  BG's a perfect writing (as well as walking) companion.  We all adore her!

There's lots of other "stuff", of course.  In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, it's definitely time to do another office clean-out.  But not today.  No, definitely not today.  That's a job for a cold, windy, wet winter day.  A chore for tomorrow.  HaHa  

So tell me, my writing friends, What's in your office/writing space?