***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
In this “top-notch mystery thriller” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) from Alex Finlay, What Have We Done is a tale about the lives we leave behind and the secrets we carry with us forever.
One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2023:• BookPage • BookBub • BuzzFeed • Go BookMart • Goodreads • The Every Girl • She Reads • Beyond the Bookends
A stay-at-home mom with a past. A has-been rock star with a habit. A reality TV producer with a debt. Three disparate lives. One deadly secret.
Twenty five years ago, Jenna, Donnie, and Nico were the best of friends, having forged a bond through the abuse and neglect they endured as residents of Savior House, a group home for parentless teens. When the home was shut down—after the disappearance of several kids—the three were split up.
Though the trauma of their childhood has never left them, each went on to live accomplished—if troubled—lives. They haven’t seen one another since they were teens but now are reunited for a single haunting reason: someone is trying to kill them.
To survive, the group will have to revisit the nightmares of their childhoods and confront their shared past—a past that holds the secret to why someone wants them dead.
It’s a reunion none of them asked for . . . or wanted. But it may be the only way to save all their lives.
What Have We Done is both an edge-of-your-seat thriller and a gut-wrenching coming-of-age story. And it cements Alex Finlay as one of the new leading voices in thrillers today.
This was my first book by Alex Finlay and I am glad I finally read one of his books. What Have We Done is a fast-paced, exciting thriller that had me up at night trying to finish the book.
The short chapters with varied POVs helped to move this story along quickly as well as making the book more exciting as I was never sure who to believe. Not all these characters were sympathetic, but they all were compelling.
***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
A dazzling collection of fifteen short stories from Margaret Atwood, the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments.
Margaret Atwood has established herself as one of the most visionary and canonical authors in the world. This collection of fifteen extraordinary stories—some of which have appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine—explore the full warp and weft of experience, speaking to our unique times with Atwood’s characteristic insight, wit and intellect.
The two intrepid sisters of the title story grapple with loss and memory on a perfect summer evening; “Impatient Griselda” explores alienation and miscommunication with a fresh twist on a folkloric classic; and “My Evil Mother” touches on the fantastical, examining a mother-daughter relationship in which the mother purports to be a witch. At the heart of the collection are seven extraordinary stories that follow a married couple across the decades, the moments big and small that make up a long life of uncommon love—and what comes after.
Returning to short fiction for the first time since her 2014 collection Stone Mattress, Atwood showcases both her creativity and her humanity in these remarkable tales which by turns delight, illuminate, and quietly devastate.
Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood is a series of short stories that I really enjoyed. I have not read a book by Margaret Atwood before, and I wanted to see if would enjoy her writing style, and I really do.
The book is broken down into three parts as follows:
Section I – Tig & Nell
Section II – My Evil Mother
Section III – Nell & Tig
Like most collections of stories, there were some I enjoyed more than others. I enjoyed the third part of the book the best. The stories in section III, which have Nell & Tig as older characters were the most relatable for me. But I also enjoyed the younger Nell and Tig in part I of the book. My Evil Mother was another excellent story.
Old Babes in the Woods demonstrates Margaret Atwood’s writing style and her imagination. Her writing is evocative and compelling and I enjoyed every story in this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel comes a powerful novel about a woman running her family’s luxury department store and the wealthy investor who threatens to take it over.
Spencer Brooke always knew she was destined to be CEO of her grandfather’s business—the most respected and luxurious department store in New York City. Brooke’s has been at the center of every happy memory she has, but it hasn’t been an easy journey. Seven years after her father’s death, her life is very different from the days when she walked through the store with her grandfather as a young girl. She may be the owner of Brooke’s, but she’s also now a divorced single mother of twin boys. And with the ever-evolving landscape of the fashion industry comes new challenges for Spencer and the legacy she’s inherited.
Mike Weston is known for making enormous profits by transforming small businesses into bigger, more successful ones. With his marriage at a breaking point and his children grown up, investing is where he thrives—where he can build something greater. And Brooke’s feels like the perfect opportunity. Yet the firm’s beautiful and savvy CEO turns down the offer before they even meet.
Spencer has no interest in outside investors meddling in her family business; her grandfather never saw the need for them, and neither does she. She refuses to be tempted by Mike’s offer, despite her big dreams of expanding the store. But when bad luck strikes, suddenly she is backed into a corner.
In Worthy Opponents, Danielle Steel crafts a thrilling story about a powerful woman—and her equally formidable opponent.
Worthy Opponents by Danielle Steel is an emotional story about a woman trying to hold on to her legacy and one man who is trying to take it away.
In true Danielle Steel form, she wove a story full of emotion and high stakes. Spencer is determined to keep her grandfather’s legacy, a department store in New York City running and profitable. However, when she is approached by Mike for a takeover, she knows she can’t sell and let the management of the store fall to someone outside of the family. But, circumstances force her to consider his offer.
I enjoyed this slow-burn romance, Spencer and Mike are a sweet couple and they complement each other. There is also plenty of action in the story that kept me turning the pages until everything was solved.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I haven’t read any of these. I do need to read Margaret Atwood soon though. I loved the show The Handmaid’s Tale, and tried listening to the audiobook for that, but couldn’t get into it. I think it is one I need to read the book instead of listening to. Great reviews!
What Have Done looks so good and I’m glad to see how much you enjoyed it! Adding to my TBR. I really need to try Margaret Atwood. Somehow I’ve never read anything by her and a collection of stories may be a better introduction than a full length book. I haven’t read Danielle Steel in ages but this one does sound good. I’ll have to look for it. Great reviews!
I also haven’t read a book by Margaret Atwood! Of course I’m very intrigued with her short stories collection now, mainly because of the cover of course…!
I had an Atwood review ARC quite a few years ago, The Heart Goes Last. I didn’t care for it, but have always intended to read something else by her because her fans didn’t seem to care for that book either. Maybe this anthology would be a good start for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ☺
What Have We Done is such an exciting thriller. It was my second Finlay book and though I thought Night Shift was much better in terms of character development, this book was just so edge-of-your-seat. I loved that. Excellent review!
Excellent reviews, Wendy. As a Canadian, I am ashamed to say that I have not read any Margaret Atwood books. I tried to read The Handmaid’s Tale years ago, but just couldn’t get into it.
Wendy
I enjoyed the short stories. I’m not sure how I would feel about a full length book
I have Atwood’s new book and enjoyed your thoughts on it. I’m looking forward to the short stories, a genre I’m recently enjoying after a long hiatus. Have a good week. https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/
What Have We Done 
Old Babes in the Wood
Worthy Opponents
I haven’t read any of these. I do need to read Margaret Atwood soon though. I loved the show The Handmaid’s Tale, and tried listening to the audiobook for that, but couldn’t get into it. I think it is one I need to read the book instead of listening to. Great reviews!
What Have Done looks so good and I’m glad to see how much you enjoyed it! Adding to my TBR. I really need to try Margaret Atwood. Somehow I’ve never read anything by her and a collection of stories may be a better introduction than a full length book. I haven’t read Danielle Steel in ages but this one does sound good. I’ll have to look for it. Great reviews!
I love the mini reviews! It was fun getting s snapshot of what you thought of each book.
Thanks for sharing our mini review. We’re happy that you enjoyed all of them.
I also haven’t read a book by Margaret Atwood! Of course I’m very intrigued with her short stories collection now, mainly because of the cover of course…!
I had an Atwood review ARC quite a few years ago, The Heart Goes Last. I didn’t care for it, but have always intended to read something else by her because her fans didn’t seem to care for that book either. Maybe this anthology would be a good start for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ☺
I haven’t read any Danielle steel book. This sounds really good. Amazing reviews!
Thank you, Yesha
What Have We Done is such an exciting thriller. It was my second Finlay book and though I thought Night Shift was much better in terms of character development, this book was just so edge-of-your-seat. I loved that. Excellent review!
Thank you , Tessa
I haven’t read any of these, but your reviews are wonderful!
Thank you, Jolene.
Excellent reviews, Wendy. As a Canadian, I am ashamed to say that I have not read any Margaret Atwood books. I tried to read The Handmaid’s Tale years ago, but just couldn’t get into it.
I enjoyed the short stories. I’m not sure how I would feel about a full length book
I have Atwood’s new book and enjoyed your thoughts on it. I’m looking forward to the short stories, a genre I’m recently enjoying after a long hiatus. Have a good week.
https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/
I hope you enjoy the stories.
Nice reviews, Wendy! Glad you enjoyed them all!
Thank you, Cindy
Wonderful reviews Wendy. I can’t wait to read the Danielle Steel.💜
I hope you enjoy it too.
Good reviews. You have been quite busy reading!
Thank you, Linda.
lovely mini reviews and great looking reads 😊
Thank you, Jenny