Kindle Audiobook: Grave Water Lake by A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent

 

Oegh, meh. This one had all the ingredients for a chilling page-turner: a frozen lake, an isolated cabin, and a nameless woman shivering in the deep of night. The premise is strong, initially really enjoyed it. Could have gone in so many ways.

But it started to irritate me more than anything.

Synopsis:

A woman awakens beside a remote, frozen lake with no memory of who she is or how she got there.

Bleary‑eyed and frightened, she stumbles to a nearby house where a man named Gregg offers shelter. As a brutal winter storm traps them together, she adopts the name “Anna” after the initial on her bracelet  . Strange noises, phantom footsteps, whispered voices and odd hints erode her sense of safety. Flashbacks to another woman, Adria, run parallel—hinting at hidden connections. As Anna pieces together her identity, she must decide if Gregg is protector or predator—and whether her regained memories are truth or threat.

(*Spolier* she's an author and confuses the book she is writing with real life because of a concussion.)

Kindle Audiobook: Follow Me: A Thriller, Elizabeth Rose Quinn

 

Follow Me: A Thriller by Elizabeth Rose Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3.8/5)

The story started off a bit slow, and I wasn’t sure if it would hold my attention. It picked up as it went along, and I found myself keen to hear how it would all unfold. The plot was fairly standard and didn’t quite blow my hair back, but the writing was strong. It was well crafted and easy to listen to. I didn’t love it, but I enjoyed it overall.

Libby: Counterfeit, Kristen Chen

 

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Counterfeit sets out to be a smart, stylish story about two women caught up in the world of fake designer handbags. What it becomes is a tale of manipulation, deceit, and getting away with it – and that did not sit well with me.

Ava, a quiet, seemingly respectable lawyer, is drawn back into the orbit of Winnie, an old college acquaintance with a commanding presence and a shady plan. Winnie steamrolls everyone in her path. Ava plays the victim, but she is just as complicit. The dynamic felt toxic. I don’t enjoy stories that glamourise crime or reward bad behaviour – and this one certainly did.

The writing was slick, and the world of counterfeit goods was interesting to explore. But I couldn’t get past the fact that there were no consequences. No redemption. Just two morally bankrupt characters dressed in designer lies.

Final thought: Stylishly written but ethically empty. If you are looking for something with substance and integrity, this one might leave you cold.

2.8/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Surfacing, Claire Ackroyd

 

★★★☆☆ 3/5

The Surfacing started with promise but quickly became slow and drawn out. It felt like it was trying too hard to be suspenseful, with only a few twists that didn’t land as powerfully as intended.

The present-tense writing style made it harder to get into, and overall the pacing lacked momentum. That said, the narrator did a good job and kept me listening even when the plot dragged.

Not terrible, but not memorable either.

Premise:

It’s been twelve years since teenager Peter Ferguson drowned in Loch Ness while Stephanie’s family were camping by the shore. Now, as her estranged sister Aurélie prepares to wed, Stephanie returns for the wedding—only to find old suspicions bubbling back up. As drink flows and long‑held secrets start to surface, the festive weekend becomes a tense battleground of guilt, silence, and the search for truth .

Libby Audiobook: Anxious For Nothing, Max Lucado

 

"Today, I will live today. Yesterday has passed, tomorrow is not yet. I am left with today, so, today I will live today. Relive yesterday? No. I will learn from it. I will seek mercy for it. I will take joy in it. But I won't live in it. The sun has set on yesterday. The sun is yet to rise on tomorrow. Worry about the future? To what gain? It deserves a glance, nothing more. I can't change tomorrow until tomorrow. Today, I will live today. I will face today's challenges with today's strength. I will dance today's waltz with today's music. I will celebrate today's opportunities with today's hope, today. May I laugh, listen, learn and love and tomorrow if it comes, may I do so again. A new day awaits you my friend, a new season in which you will worry less and trust more. A season with reduced fear and enhanced faith. Can you imagine a life in which you are anxious for nothing? God can, and with his help, you will experience it." Max Lucado

Kindle Audiobook: Hold Strong, Robert Dugoni, along with Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree

 

Wow. Just wow.

Although Hold Strong is presented as a novel, knowing it is based on true events makes it all the more compelling. It is one of those rare reads that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go.

The resilience, courage, and raw humanity captured in this story are extraordinary. Robert Dugoni, along with Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree, masterfully weaves a tale that is both heart-pounding and deeply moving.

An unforgettable tribute to endurance and the indomitable human spirit. 

5/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Aftermath, Gail Schimmel

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I thoroughly enjoy Gail Schimmel’s writing and always love supporting a talented South African author. 

The narrators were good. Daniel was very grating. Julia too. (Which they were supposed to be!) I do feel a bit sorry for Julia, but she brought it on herself by getting involved with her best friend’s husband.

A sweet story with emotional depth.

4.5 stars from me.