Thriller Review: RAZORBLADE TEARS by S.A. Cosby
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby Also by this author: Blacktop Wasteland
Published by Flatiron Books on July 6, 2021
Genres: Fiction, Thriller
Pages: 336
Source: Netgalley
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FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
S.A. Cosby’s high octane crime thriller Blacktop Wasteland was one of my favorite reads of 2020, and as high as my expectations were for his follow up novel, Razorblade Tears, I was pretty sure there was no way he could top Blacktop Wasteland. I was dead wrong though because Razorblade Tears is one of the most powerful and provocative books I’ve ever read. It’s a story about loss and grief, revenge and justice, and it’s also a story about regret and about learning from the mistakes of your past.
Set in Virginia, the story follows ex-cons Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins. On the surface it would appear these two men have nothing in common aside from their criminal pasts. Ike is a Black man who used to run with a gang, while Buddy is, as he refers to himself, redneck, white trash. What these two men do have in common though is their sons, a married gay couple, both of whom were brutally murdered. What they also have in common is that both men let their homophobia prevent them from having loving relationships with their boys and now they’re filled with regret because they can no longer make things right between them.
Most of the book focuses on Ike and Buddy Lee’s quest to bring their sons’ killers to justice and their road to justice is paved with violence, blood and gore as well as coarse language as Ike and Buddy Lee encounter some pretty rough crowds. To put it mildly, it’s an intense read that isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s also a fast-paced adrenaline rush that I devoured in a day because I just had to know who was responsible for the murders and whether or not Ike and Buddy Lee would bring them down.
Razorblade Tears, as its name implies, is also a story that is filled with pain, grief and raw emotion and it’s this angle that really took this book to the next level for me. These two fathers know they made terrible mistakes when it came to their sons and how they refused to just love them and accept them for who they were. Both Ike and Buddy Lee desperately wish they could go back and do things differently. I enjoyed reading their journey, both as they became unlikely friends bonding over this tragedy and as they both try to learn from their mistakes and become better men. This personal journey of growth made for such an interesting contrast with the gritty violence of their revenge quest.
With Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears, S.A. Cosby has proven he’s a force to be reckoned with in the crime thriller genre. I highly recommend both books if you’re looking for a powerful read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
About S.A. Cosby
S. A. Cosby is a writer from Southeastern Virginia. He won the 2019 Anthony Award for Best Short Story for “The Grass Beneath My Feet”, and his previous books include Brotherhood of the Blade and My Darkest Prayer. He resides in Gloucester, Virginia. When not writing, he is an avid hiker and chess player.
Romance Reviews: TO SIR, WITH LOVE & ONCE UPON A ROYAL SUMMER
Happy Monday! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on two fantastic contemporary romances that I devoured this weekend. This was my first time reading a novel from Lauren Layne even though I’ve wanted to for ages, and this was my second novel from Teri Wilson, whose novel The Accidental Beauty Queen I fell in love with a couple of years ago. Also, how cute are these covers together? I just noticed they’re color-coordinated as I was putting this post together, lol.
To Sir, with Love Goodreads Author: Lauren Layne
Publication Date: June 29, 2021
Publisher: Gallery Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I’ve been wanting to read one of Lauren Layne’s contemporary romances for a while now, and when I saw her latest book, To Sir, With Love, being compared to You’ve Got Mail, one of my favorite films, I knew this was the book for me.
The premise of the story is a fun one. Main characters, Gracie Cooper and Sebastian Andrews, meet on a dating app and really hit it off. They haven’t exchanged real names, only referring to themselves as Sir and Lady, and have not met in person, but they regularly correspond through the app and it’s clear they have great chemistry. There’s just one catch. Gracie and Sebastian do know each other in real life, and Gracie can’t stand Sebastian. She thinks he’s nothing more than a greedy corporate big shot who is trying to force her to sell her family’s struggling champagne business.
I had so much fun reading this story. I loved the contrast between the friendly and flirty messages Sir and Lady send to one another versus the outright sparks that fly between Gracie and Sebastian every time they interact. I also loved watching Gracie’s feelings toward Sebastian evolve as she gradually starts to realize he isn’t the monster she had made him out to be in her head. I love a good enemies to lovers story so I was completely invested in the changing status of their very entertaining relationship.
In addition to the relationship between Gracie and Sebastian and their alter egos, Sir and Lady, there’s also a big focus on family that I loved. Gracie’s two siblings feature prominently as they are also part owners of the family business, even though they’ve pretty much abandoned Gracie to run it alone while they live their own lives. There’s a bit of family drama around that, but I did love the bond between these siblings and how they’re able to come together and have an honest and supportive discussion about what to do when it becomes clear the store may not make it. There’s also a wonderful cast of secondary characters who work in the shop with them, as well as Gracie’s neighbor Keva, a quirky chef who pops in at all hours. They all add an extra layer of fun and humor to the story.
There’s also a very important message about the importance of living your own life and following your dreams and passions. Gracie didn’t want to let her father down since it was his dying wish that they keep the business in the family, but it was his passion, not hers. Gracie’s struggle with that is a struggle I think many readers will relate to.
I truly loved everything about To Sir, With Love, from its Manhattan setting to waiting with anticipation to see what would happen once Gracie and Sebastian realized their connection through the dating app. The reading experience was everything I hoped it would be and more and I look forward to reading more from Lauren Layne. 5 STARS
Once Upon a Royal Summer: A delightful royal romance from Hallmark Publishing Goodreads
Author: Teri Wilson
Publication Date: June 15, 2021
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The tagline on the cover of Teri Wilson’s new contemporary romance, Once Upon a Royal Summer, describes it as “A theme park princess. A real-life prince.” As a Disney fanatic and a romantic at heart, I couldn’t resist the story’s premise and its promise of a modern-day fairy tale. And boy does it deliver!
Wilson grabbed my attention and my heartstrings from the opening pages when we meet Lacey, who works at Once Upon a Time theme park in Florida as Princess Sweetpea. We learn that Lacey’s mom passed away when Lacey was seven and that one of the few joys she had during her mom’s many hospital stays were princesses who would come around and visit the children to keep their spirits up. Lacey remembers how special they made her feel and now she wants to pay that forward by doing her best to make special moments for as many children as she can. I had tremendous sympathy for her for losing her mom so young and I just loved how big-hearted she is.
Our real-life Prince Charming, Prince Henry of Bella-Moritz, is also a lovable character. Henry has brought his young daughter, Princess Rose, to Florida to celebrate her birthday and to let her have a few days where she can just be a normal little girl, without all the pressures of being a Royal, which have already started to bear down on her. When Lacey first meets Henry and Rose, she has no idea who they are. All she sees is a girl who loves princesses and a single dad doing his best to give his daughter the time of her life. Henry’s devotion to his daughter just melted my heart and I just knew from the moment we met him that he would be perfect for Lacey. I was so happy to see sparks between them as soon as they met.
After their initial meeting, Lacey is informed who Henry and Rose are and is charged with giving these VIP guests a magical vacation. I adored watching Lacey spend time with Rose. She brings out the best in her and also makes her happy in a way Henry hasn’t seen since Rose’s mom died. And she does the same with Henry. Henry and Lacey share so many sweet, romantic and flirty moments. At first neither of them can tell if it’s just the magic of the theme park or if there’s really something between them, but the answer soon becomes clear and I was loving every minute of it because I’m just such a sucker for the royal falling for a commoner trope!
There’s so much to love about this story beyond just Lacey, Rose, and Henry. I also really enjoyed the magical, romantic setting, which is split between the theme park and Henry’s charming kingdom of Bella-Moritz. It’s a picture-perfect backdrop for romance. I also loved the fabulous secondary characters, including Ava, Lacey’s best friend who works as Little Red Riding Hood at the theme park, and Ian, Prince Henry’s bodyguard, who is like an uncle to Princess Rose and who according to Ava, looks like a long-lost Hemsworth brother. The Queen is also a pretty great character as she struggles between what is “right and proper” for royals, but is also a caring mother and grandmother who just wants her son and granddaughter to be happy and loved.
If you’re into modern-day fairytales that will warm your heart and leave a smile on your face, I highly recommend Once Upon a Royal Summer. I devoured the story in less than a day so it’s a perfect choice to throw in your bag for a weekend at the beach or to read poolside. 4.5 STARS
Reviews: Near the Bone & You Will Remember Me
Hi everyone! Sharon here with another edition of Thriller Thursday. This week I am sharing my thoughts on Christina Henry’s new book, Near the Bone and Hannah Mary McKinnon’s new book, You Will Remember Me. I have enjoyed the writings of both these ladies and their new books are no exception. They were both awesome reads.
Near the Bone Goodreads Author: Christina Henry
Publication Date: April 13, 2021
Publisher: Berkley Books
I loved the last 2 books I read by Christina Henry, The Girl in Red and The Ghost Tree so I was thrilled when I saw she had a new thriller, Near the Bone, coming out. I couldn’t wait to read this book and let me tell you, this is my favorite so far. If you are a thriller fan and love slasher movies like I do, then this is definitely the book for you.
Mattie and her husband William live alone in the mountains. Mattie has no contact with the outside world and cannot remember her life before William. Mattie tries to be the good wife William expects, because when William gets angry, Mattie pays. One day while checking the traps in the woods, Mattie finds what look like bear tracks but are way too large to be a bear. When Mattie and William go searching the woods for this animal, they find its cave and what they find inside makes no sense for a wild animal. Inside the cave are bones that are separated into categories, skulls in one pile, ribs in another etc. as well as a pile of intestines. When 3 strangers show up on the mountain to hunt for this animal, Mattie needs to make them leave before William sees them. William will be angry and it will be Mattie that suffers.
I had so much sympathy for Mattie. The only life she knows is with William and she just suffers such abuse from him. And now Mattie has 2 monsters to worry about, William and the creature in the woods. I was rooting for her to have the strength to finally escape. And I was also cheering her on when she gradually found the strength to fight back at both William and the creature. As the story progresses, we do get bits of info of how Mattie came to be living with William and the more we learned the more my heart broke for her. When everything was finally revealed I was praying that the creature in the woods would give William a slow and torturous death. Oh, how I hated that man.
Griffin, CP and Jen are the three strangers that showed up on the mountain. And while we don’t get a lot of background on them, I did like how they were sympathetic and interacted with Mattie. But boy, these 3 came across to me as the group in a horror movie you kept yelling at to shut up. I kept thinking “Why don’t you just have a neon sign above you, Yo killer over here!” LOL. Mattie got so frustrated with them when she was trying to get them to realize they need to listen to her if they wanted to get off the mountain alive.
I really liked how Henry left what the creature looked like for the reader to decide. She gives vague descriptions of the creature, but the rest is up to the reader to create their own image. I really thought this was a great way to add to the terror of the book. I am not going to tell you what I pictured, but I did conjure up one heck of a terrifying creature. I also thought Henry did an amazing job of creating a creepy setting with the isolated snowy mountains.
I really cannot say much about this book because I don’t want to spoil anything. But if you are a horror fan that likes gore, then I think you will love this book. 4 ½ stars
You Will Remember Me Goodreads Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Publisher: MIRA Books
You Will Remember Me is my third read by Hannah Mary McKinnon and I enjoyed it as much as The Neighbors and Sister Dear.
The novel starts by introducing us to several seemingly unrelated characters. A man wakes up on a beach in Maryland with a gash on his head and no memory of who he is. When he sees a car with a Maine license plate something is pulling him to go to Maine.
Lily Reid’s boyfriend Jack is missing. He was going to go for a swim one night and was supposed to show up at her apartment the next morning but never did. As Lily searches for Jack, she finds information that Jack was not who he said he was, and she really did not know him at all.
Maya Scott’s stepbrother Ash went missing 2 years ago. Now he is back, though he has no memory of his life with Maya or where he has been for the last 2 years. Which is fine with Maya, the less Ash remembers the better and she will go to any length to make sure he doesn’t remember.
We learn pretty early in the book how all these characters are connected, so it is not a spoiler to say that Jack and Ash are one in the same. The real mystery is, why did Ash take off 2 years ago without telling Maya where he was going and what happened to him on the beach 2 years later to give him amnesia? We learn the answers to those questions as Ash’s memory comes back in bits and pieces.
Maya was the character I loved to hate. She came across right away as someone that could not be trusted. So, whenever she told Ash some information from their past or if Ash remembered something and she told him it was a false memory I did not believe her one bit. From her POV we learn that Maya had some pretty strong and unhealthy feelings for her stepbrother. I did feel sorry for her at times when she was remembering things from her childhood, but then some of her actions had me thinking “Okay, you are a psycho.” LOL.
I Liked the determination Lily had in finding what happened to Jack. She didn’t just leave it to the police, and when items from Jack’s belongings pointed to Maine that is where she headed. I did have to roll my eyes at her though when she got mad when she found out that he had been lying about who he was, because there are things in Lily’s past that she hid from him as well. Neither of them was very honest with each other. But once they reconnected, I did hope that they would be able to overcome all this and have their happily ever after.
I had a lot of sympathy for Ash. I cannot even imagine not being able to remember anything about your life and having to rely on others to fill in the gaps and trust that they are telling you the truth.
I liked trying to piece together the mystery of what happened to make Ash take off 2 years ago. And while I did have things figured out for the most part, there was one twist right at the end that literally had my mouth drop open. This was going to be a 3 ½ star review but after that ending I had to bump it up to 4 stars. Bravo! Hannah Mary McKinnon, Bravo! 4 Stars