Dual Harvest by Lori Michelle

Synopsis from Amazon:

WHATEVER AMBER WANTS... Lila's perfect Saturday night means falling asleep on the couch with a glass of wine and a good book. But even the perfect night could go bad when Lila starts longing to know what secrets her brain keeps locked away. Left with only distorted nightmares of her life before the accident, she numbly goes through life, hoping to find out just who she is. Amber, double-crossed by a lover, would much rather be slipping something in the wine than sipping it. While she gives great pleasure, loving Amber comes with great pain. Her body is a weapon and she knows how to use it. Detective Balducci, now removed from the Harvester Killer case, begins an off-the-record investigation that will not only test his skill as a seasoned yet loose cannon police officer, but stretch his emotions to the breaking point. As their lives crash together, past scandals and shocking truths surface as they find out just how close to the killer they have been all along.

My review:

This book makes me cross a little. For me this was a great concept for a chilling thriller, but it just didn't have the right delivery.

I felt like I was being rushed through the important parts and stalled through the bits that just fluffed up the book to make it longer. The language was basic, some scenes just badly put together and there was an annoying repetition of sentences and character's thoughts. How quickly David fell for Amber and completely failed as an experienced member of the Police Force. Yes, love is blind, but not that much surely.

I kind of feel a little sorry for this book. The author had a great vision, but I wish it was proof read better. This book is a mixture of too many genres trying to gel.

I have received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for this honest review.

My rating: 2/5

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin

Synopsis from Amazon:

Noah is four and wants to go home. The only trouble is he's already there.

Janie's son is her world, and it breaks her heart that he has nightmares. 
That he's terrified of water. 

That he sometimes pushes her away and screams that he wants his real mother. 
That it's getting worse and worse and no one seems to be able to help.

In desperation, she turns to someone who might have an answer - but it may not be one she's ready to hear.  It may also mean losing the one thing she loves more than anything. 

A novel that spans life, death and everything in between, The Forgetting Time tells an unforgettable story - about Noah, about love, and, above all, about the things we hold onto when we have nothing else.

My review:

This book is amazing. I was lucky enough to receive ARC from NetGalley and I am grateful as this is probably the best book I have read in a while.

I have never read any reincarnation stories, but I have heard of them as a close friend is a great enthusiast and watched lots of videos on this matter. She made me familiar with Jim Tucker’s work on the stories of children who remember past lives – this is such an uncharted territory for so many people and it’s fantastic to read a book that uses the subject with emotion and sensitivity that Sharon Guskin achieved here.

Noah seems like such a beautiful, lost boy and my heart went out to his mother Janie. When they meet Dr Anderson, it takes quite a while for Janie to believe that something so out of this world can explain the problems her three year old son has been going through.

As the book goes on and we meet Denise and her family and the tragic story of Noah’s other personality Tommy is revealed, you feel a sense of relief wash over you. There is that light at the end of the tunnel, the explanation, even if not scientific.

Whatever you believe in, this book is a must read. Throughout the book the author has inserted true stories from around the world of children with past lives experiences and it makes this book that much more interesting.

My score: 5/5

Behind Closed Doors by Susan Lewis

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A powerful novel about how life can change course in a heartbeat.  When fourteen-year-old Sophie Monroe suddenly vanishes one night it looks at first as though she's run away from home.  Her computer and mobile phone have gone, and she's taken a bag full of clothes.

As the police investigation unfolds a wealth of secrets from the surrounding community start coming to light. And it seems everyone has something to hide.

For Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence, the case is a painful reminder of the tragedy that tore her family apart over twenty years ago. She is convinced there is more to Sophie's disappearance than teenage rebellion.

But is the past clouding her judgment, preventing her from seeing a truth that neither she, nor Sophie's family, would ever want to face

My review:

This was my third book by Susan Lewis and what a great read it was.  Characters were believable and easy to engage with and the story resonated with all the bad news stories we see these days so it was current and generational.

The author portrayed the amount of emotions and risks and distractions Police staff have to overcome when investigating such a case.  It was certainly very difficult for Andee to distance herself from the case of missing Sophie Monroe as she herself experienced the turmoil years earlier when her own sister went missing.

I like the fact that not all ended well in this book.  I, like most people, enjoy a good happy ending, but it’s not always possible to wrap up a story like this with smiles and happiness.  Sometimes things just don’t work out the way we want them to.

My score: 4/5