It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

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Have a question, a recommendation, or just want to talk books? Those messages are welcome, too.

It is safe to say that Lisa's life revolves around being a mother. Not that she's upset about that. As a single mom, Lisa devotes most of her time and energy to raising her daughter Ava. Lisa's past has some darkness in it that she constantly tries to overcome, but Ava is that shining light that keeps her going. Ava is a teenager now, and Lisa knows she can't hang on to babying her forever. Things get interesting when Lisa meets an attractive client at work. Could this be the start of the next phase of her life?

Ava loves her mom, but she's starting to feel a little suffocated by all of the attention. She's not a little girl anymore. Her friends from the swim team have all had sex already, and Ava feels like nows is as good a time as any for her to lose her virginity too. There's the boy at school who she's been dating that Ava knows is ready for sex. But Ava has another person in mind. She's been messaging an older man who really makes her feel like a woman. She's never experienced these feelings before. With her mom, Ava is still a little girl. With him, she is a fully grown woman.

Lisa and Ava's life is given a jolt when Ava rescues a drowning child from a river. Instinct kicks in and she rushes into the water to save him. Just like that, Ava is a local hero. It only takes a few pictures of Ava and her proud mother to run in the press for everything to come crashing down. After years of running from her past, Lisa is forced to face it. Can she come to terms with the darkness she's been running from? More importantly, can she shield her daughter from all of the horrors that are about to ensue?

Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough is a mystery that left me with decidedly mixed feelings. When I was contacted to review the novel by TLC Book Tours, I was really eager to read it. Pinbourough's Behind Her Eyes had lots of reviewers buzzing with excitement, so I knew I was in for a treat with her latest. Chapters alternate POV between Lisa and Ava. Both women are dealing with secrets of their own, some of which even the reader doesn't know. I was instantly drawn to both characters and their enticing personalities. Pinborough takes advantage of the thrill of the unknown by stringing the reader along for as long as possible without revealing the true nature of the mystery. In fact, I'd argue the first part of the book was more successful than the latter simply because of this secrecy. The revelations ended up being more typical to the genre than I would have liked, but I can't argue the fun of discovering them.

For more information, visit the author's website, publisher's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
This review is part of a TLC Book Tour. Check out the full tour schedule here!

(2018, 34)

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6 Comments

Comments

LuanneSeptember 18, 2018 at 7:19 PM
Great review Ethan! Added to the teetering TBR pile!
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerSeptember 19, 2018 at 9:28 PM
Sometimes even when things are a bit predictable, I do appreciate and enjoy the ride.
VerushkaSeptember 23, 2018 at 5:56 AM
I agree with Kimberly above, predictable can be good when an author makes the journey there fun!

A Book A Week

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

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