The Running Bibliophile

Racing the Light (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, #19) by Robert Crais is a thriller where Elvis Cole is contacted by a worried mother named Adele Schumacher because her podcaster son, Josh Shoe, is missing. She brings along bodyguards and is full of conspiracy stories of why her son is missing. Elvis figures this will be an open and shut case but quickly learns he isn't the only one looking for Josh. First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC). I was thrilled and honored to be chosen to read Racing the Light by Robert Crais. Well written, fast paced, and unputdownable is how I would describe Racing the Light (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, #19) by Robert Crais. I would've stayed up all night long reading this book if I didn't have to work the next day. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I wasn't disappointed at all. Situations from previous books in the series were ment...

Set in New York, New York, Where You've Got To Be by Caroline Gertler is about a tween girl named Nolie and her path to growing up, learning that relationships will change, and various life lessons. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Greenwillow Books for an Advanced Readers Copy of Where You've Got To Be by Caroline Gertler in exchange for my honest review. Well written, it's reminiscent of Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby books. Even as an adult, I can definitely empathize with what the main character of Where You've Got To Be . Who didn't experience friendships that changed and people making fun of them in some way during middle school? The pacing was perfect and kept my interest the entire time.  It's definitely a perfect book for children between the ages of eight and twelve. This children's novel reassures the reader that things will work out for the better, even though it may not feel like it at the time. I think this is a perfect book for paren...

The Summer of Christmas by Juliet Giglio and Keith Giglio opens with up and coming screenwriter Ivy Green about to have her life turned upside down. In the midst of her getting an agent, Ivy's boyfriend breaks up with her. Will they get back together?   Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of The Summer of Christmas by Juliet Giglio and Keith Giglio. I was happy to read this book in exchange for my honest review.   When I saw the title of the book, the cover, and read the synopsis of The Summer of Christmas I was intrigued. After reading the novel, I wasn't disappointed. In the romantic comedy genre, I'd also classify it as a beach read.   The beginning of the book was a little rough as it felt a bit rushed and choppy because it jumped forward several years. There are also a few times that the wording in the book was odd, but I think that may be because I received an Advanced Readers Copy. Hopefully, these little oddities an...

How well do you know your neighbors? One of the neighbors in a Brighton neighborhood is spying on everyone and keeping a diary of what they find out. When the spy is brutally attacked, they go over to one of the neighbors and gives them the diary. Who attacked this person? What secrets do the diary hold? Find out in I Know What You've Done by Dorothy Koomson. Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for the Advanced Readers Copy of I Know What You've Done by Dorothy Koomson. I was ecstatic to be receive this book for free in exchange for my honest review. This is the first time I've read a book by this author, and it definitely won't be the last time. The book cover is fantastic, and the book title is intriguing. These two things drew me in to want to check out the synopsis of I Know What You've Done . After reading the summary, I knew I had to read this novel. Each chapter is told from a different characters living in the Acacia Villas neighborhood. This was ...

Kickboxing Crusader and Literary Agent Allie Cobb is getting married and has decided to stop sleuthing. However, when a local police officer is shot and killed, Allie decides she has to investigate one more case. Thinking the shooter has a connection to one of the officer's previous cases, Allie is beginning to think that there is another possibility that is much closer to her than she realizes in A Parting Shot (An Allie Cobb Mystery, #6) by J.C. Kenney. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for a digital version of an Advanced Readers Copy of  A Parting Shot by J.C. Kenney. I was beyond excited to read this book and give my honest review. This particular cozy mystery is written extremely well and is a lot better than some of the others in this genre. I loved that there wasn't a lot of gore or violence. Sometimes, I just want a lighter mystery to read, and A Parting Shot fit that description for me. Such an engaging and fun read, I couldn't wait...

Cady and Josh Caldwell are away from their house, so when neighbor Maggie sees the Venetian blinds move, she becomes concerned. A woman named Sarah answers the door reveals she's an old friend of the Caldwells and is house-sitting for them. What Maggie doesn't realize is that Sarah is panicking because no one was supposed to see her at 214 Palmer Street . I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of 214 Palmer Street by Karen McQuestion. I was thrilled to receive a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. Gripping. Thrilling. Heart Pounding. Fast Paced. These are all words I would use to describe Karen McQuestion's novel 214 Palmer Street . From the very beginning, I was sucked into the story line and couldn't wait to see what would happen.  I loved the way the author set up the different chapters. Part of it went back and forth between the past and present. It also switched back and forth between the main character and a...

Death in Paris (Màiri Maguire, #1) by Kate Darroch is a story of a teacher named Màiri Maguire who is vacationing in Paris when her accompanying friend, Lianne, is accused of murder. Working with Major Ellis Peverel, together they try to prove Lianne's innocence. A big thank you goes out to NetGalley and Kate Darroch for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of  Death in Paris (Màiri Maguire, #1) . It's an honor to be able to be selected to read this book. This fast paced cozy mystery was a fun, entertaining read that would translate well into a film. I loved that there wasn't anything too gory in the story and that there wasn't any cursing for the sake of cursing.  At first, the novel was a bit slow, and I had a bit of trouble of wrapping my head around the characters and their relationships to each other. However, the book picked up quickly, and I was able to sort out the relationships after a couple of chapters. There were some slang words I wasn't familiar with, but ...

The Model Spy by Maryka Biaggio is based on the true story of Toto Koopman, model turned spy. As a spy for the British Intelligence Service, Toto was part of the Italian Resistance in World War Two and had to face off with the German Intelligence Service. A big thanks goes out to NetGalley and Milford House Press for the digital Advanced Readers Copy of The Model Spy by Maryka Biaggio. I was honored to be selected to read this book ahead of publication. Not knowing anything about Toto Koopman before reading this book, I was in awe and shock to learn about her life. Even though the subject matter is difficult, this account of Toto's work in the Italian Resistance was a compelling read, and I was eager to finish The Model Spy to find out the fate of this courageous woman. This historical fiction novel definitely gave me a different look into WWII that I never learned about in school. Everyone knows about Anne Frank thanks to her diary being published, and it's an important rea...