The Split Review

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Release Date:  Apr. 28, 2020
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating: 4.5 Icy Hearts

*Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book. #MinotaurInfluencers

Tense, gripping and with a twist you won't see coming, Sharon Bolton is back in an explosive new standalone thriller about a woman on the run in The Split.

Synopsis:
No matter how far you run, some secrets will always catch up with you...

No matter how far you run, some secrets will always catch up with you...

The remote Antarctic island of South Georgia is about to send off its last boat of the summer – which signifies safety to resident glaciologist Felicity Lloyd.

Felicity lives in fear – fear that her ex-husband Freddie will find her, even out here. She took a job on this isolated island to hide from him, but now that he's out of prison, having served a term for murder, she knows he won’t give up until he finds her.

But a doctor delving into the background of Felicity and Freddie's relationship, back in Cambridge, learns that Felicity has been on the edge for a long time. Heading to South Georgia himself to try and get to her first is the only way he can think of to help her. The remote Antarctic island of South Georgia is about to send off its last boat of the summer – which signifies safety to resident glaciologist Felicity Lloyd.

Felicity lives in fear – fear that her ex-husband Freddie will find her, even out here. She took a job on this isolated island to hide from him, but now that he's out of prison, having served a term for murder, she knows he won’t give up until he finds her.

But a doctor delving into the background of Felicity and Freddie's relationship, back in Cambridge, learns that Felicity has been on the edge for a long time. Heading to South Georgia himself to try and get to her first is the only way he can think of to help her.

Review:
Glaciologist Felicity Lloyd is a woman living on the edge.  She's running from a past that includes an abusive ex-husband and shards of memory lost to her.  Nightmares haunt her, voices taunt her, and her ex-husband is coming for her.  Felicity has run as far as she can - to the remote Antarctic island of South Georgia. On one hand, she's living her dream as a member of a research team studying glaciers.  On the other hand, she lives in fear of her ex and her secrets - especially the ones she herself doesn't understand.  When the story begins, we're with Felicity in present time on the beautiful but deadly island of South Georgia.  Bolton exploits the deadly, icy, isolated setting as a unique character, driving the danger and suspense to a volatile level that emits a creepy vibe of impending doom. The last boat of the season is docking. If Felicity's ex isn't on it, she's free . . . and if he is, she's prepared to run.  But where?  Stakes are raised even more and tensions drawn tauter when the middle chapters of The Split revert back nine months in time serving to begin filling in the missing links of Felicity's past.  In doing so, several seemingly unrelated plot lines come into play - a serial killer of homeless people, domestic abuse, mental illness.  But in her brilliance, Bolton manipulates these plot lines and characters (and readers) until finally . . . finally, she returns to present time for the explosive epic scene that weaves it all together in the end.

The Split is a smartly written, highly atmospheric story that kept me slightly off-balance throughout as my brain worked overtime trying to solve the mystery.  I figured out one important element by midway, but that in no way decreased the intense, compelling need I had to finish this book.  The tone is dark, edgy, high in creep value and often driven by the deadly setting that steals your breath in more ways than one. Bolton's ability to create unique, dark, secretive characters toting a load of baggage has never been more evident.  I'm purposely not mentioning specifics about these characters because their introduction and purpose in the story need to be discovered by readers who go into this story blind.  Twisted, cunning, unsettling, The Split is intense suspense at its best!  Fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers are going to love this one!  Highly Recommended.

My Rating:  4.5 Icy Hearts

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

♥Sandra♥

The Happy Ever After Playlist Review

Author: Abby Jimeniz
Narrators: Zachary Webber & Erin Mallon
Format: Audiobook
Publisher: Forever
Audio: Hatchette Audio
Running Time: 9 hrs. & 17 mins.
Release Date: April 14, 2020

My Rating: 4 Flirty, Heartfelt Hearts

*Many thanks to Libro.fm for sharing this audio with me

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zone comes an adorable and fresh romantic comedy about one trouble-making dog who brings together two perfect strangers.

Synopsis:
Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can't seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.

Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

Review:
I know what you're thinking . . . another cutesy, sweet, humorous romance, right?  Well, you're right.  It's adorable.  But, hold on a minute.  Take a closer look.  This one has some meat on the bones!  The Happy Ever After Playlist tackles some tough issues with grace, humor, romance . . . and a healthy dose of reality.  Hats off to the author for taking what could have been just another light, fluffy read and elevating it to another level by delving deeper into real life issues like loss, grief, and recovery.  For challenging this cute couple to find a way to come to terms with their individual past issues while also meshing two vastly different lifestyles together into one happy ever after.  A story that will not only have you smiling and saying, "How sweet!", but one that will leave you with a sense of satisfaction over the way two different people rise from darkness to climb over and tear down the walls keeping them apart.

The Happy Every After Playlist is witty, flirty, and oh so heartfelt. Many readers met Sloane in The Friend Zone, but not having read that book in no way affected my enjoyment of this one.  The author does a fantastic job of delivering background information and placing her characters and readers in the here and now. I had no problem understanding Sloane's grief and hesitation at moving on after a loss.  And as I said earlier, I love the added depth and conflict created in this story by characters tackling major hurdles.  I must mention the dog Tucker as he plays an important role and was instrumental in bringing these two together - by getting himself lost.  And as indicated in the title, music also plays a major role in this story in more ways than one.  I soon began to look forward to the song titles found at the beginning of each chapter.  Altogether, they make up the Happy Ever After Playlist!  I picked this audiobook up looking for a light, fluffy read. Did I find one? Yes. But I'm happy to say I got so much more.  Fans of romance are going to love this one! And I must say the narration is perfect and added to my enjoyment of the book.  Highly Recommended!

My Rating: 4 Flirty, Heartfelt Hearts

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

♥Sandra♥

IWSG: Together We Can...

A database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, a book club, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG

Website / Facebook Group / Twitter / Book Club

Make sure to stop by to visit each of February's co-hosts as well as all of our other awesome members!  A big thank you to:   Diane Burton,  JH Moncrieff,  Anna @ Emaginette,  Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter,  Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!

April 1 question - The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world?
How are things in my world?  Crazy.  Insane.  Scary.  Out of sync.  Stressful.  I want the world to stop and allow me to get off for a little while.  And yet, in some ways life is a little simpler.  Slower.  A bit more personal.  A little lower key.  In North Carolina, we're under a Governor issued Shelter-in-Place order.  Only essential businesses are operating and people are only allowed trips out for food, medicine, or doctor care.  Children are not in school.  Churches are not holding services.  Restaurants only serve customers through drive-thrus.  Grocery store shelves are empty.  We can't go to the gym, hair or nail salon, or shopping for clothes.  These aren't considered necessities.  Now I beg to differ - especially when it comes to hair salons . . . getting my hair done is a necessity otherwise it won't be long before people run screaming the other way when they see me.  Not even my husband knows my real hair color.  lol

On the up side, there's more family time - dinners at the kitchen table, parents/grandparents spending quality time with children, watching movies/tv shows, playing games, working puzzles, and in our case - long walks together.  I wish I could say I'm taking advantage of more writing and/or reading time, but the whole surreal situation is rendering me unable to focus on anything.  My attention span is zilch as I find myself constantly running through a list of "what if's".  What if my husband contacts the virus?  With his health issues, the results would surely be devastating.  What if my son living in another state gets sick?  I'm not allowed to go care for him.  What if we run out of food?  Ok, so I'll admit that's not an issue as I have enough food preserved to last a long, long time. haha

Seriously, I worry about the thousands of people who are sick and/or dealing with the loss of loved ones.  I worry and pray for the people forced to die without loved ones surrounding them.  It breaks my heart.  I hope when it's all said and done, people will be able to take something positive from this horrific experience as they move forward.  I'd like to think one of those things will be the realization that the people of our world are stronger

working together - all countries and nationalities.  Together, we can win this battle.  I hope and pray that lessons learned during this bleak time will not be forgotten in the future.

Please take care of yourselves and your families during this dark time.  Together, we'll get through it one way or the other.  And please - share with this wonderful group how you and yours are coping with everything.  How are you spending your time?  I hope it's writing.