The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor*
From Goodreads: Joe never wanted to come back to Arnhill. After the way things ended with his old gang–the betrayal, the suicide, the murder–and after what happened when his sister went missing, the last thing he wanted to do was return to his hometown. But Joe doesn’t have a choice. Because judging by what was done to that poor Morton kid, what happened all those years ago to Joe’s sister is happening again. And only Joe knows who is really at fault.
Lying his way into a teaching job at his former high school is the easy part. Facing off with former friends who are none too happy to have him back in town–while avoiding the enemies he’s made in the years since–is tougher. But the hardest part of all will be returning to that abandoned mine where it all went wrong and his life changed forever, and finally confronting the shocking, horrifying truth about Arnhill, his sister, and himself. Because for Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn’t the day his sister went missing. It was the day she came back.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
From Goodreads: On her way to Utah to see her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne gets caught in a fierce blizzard in the mountains of Colorado. With the roads impassable, she’s forced to wait out the storm at a remote highway rest stop. Inside, are some vending machines, a coffee maker, and four complete strangers.
Desperate to find a signal to call home, Darby goes back out into the storm . . . and makes a horrifying discovery. In the back of the van parked next to her car, a little girl is locked in an animal crate.
Who is the child? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?
There is no cell phone reception, no telephone, and no way out. One of her fellow travelers is a kidnapper. But which one?
Trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation, with a child’s life and her own on the line, Darby must find a way to break the girl out of the van and escape.
But who can she trust?
My review: A few chapters in and my heart was racing! But all good things must come to an end and for this one, the letdown came sooner rather than later. Let’s start off with the positive – this book built up the suspense very quickly and I was on the edge of my seat reading this! The plot was so action packed that it reminded me of that scene in Home Alone when the burglars attempt to break in and Macaulay Culkin is ready, every attempt is foiled. You know the scene, right?! The heroine in this novel is a female Macgyver, very resourceful (there’s a scene with shoelaces, does that really work???) and seems invincible. Unfortunately, the book went from realism and veered very sharply into fantasy and I lost interest. I think one reviewer summed it up best by saying it was “cheesy.” It had so much potential, just so disappointed in how it unraveled!
I Owe You One by Sophia Kinsella*
From Goodreads: Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” But since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will? It’s simply not in her nature to say no to people.
So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, Fixie not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. Turns out the computer’s owner is an investment manager. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, Sebastian scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. But Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?
Then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. She wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. And Seb agrees, until the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants?
The Woman Inside by E.G. Scott
From Goodreads: Rebecca didn’t know love was possible until she met Paul, a successful, charismatic, married man with a past as dark as her own. Their pain drew them together with an irresistible magnetism; they sensed that they were each other’s ideal (and perhaps only) match.
But twenty years later, Paul and Rebecca are drowning as the damage and secrets that ignited their love begin to consume their marriage. Paul is cheating on Rebecca, and his affair gets messy fast. His mistress is stalking them with growing audacity when Rebecca discovers Paul’s elaborate plan to build a new life without her. And though Rebecca is spiraling into an opiate addiction, it doesn’t stop her from coming up with a devious plot of her own, and this one could end absolutely everything.
What follows is an unpredictable and stylish game of cat and mouse—a shocking tale of unfaithfulness and unreliability that will keep you racing until the final twist and make you wonder how well you really know your spouse.

I”m glad to hear that you liked the new Kinsella book! A lot of people are saying they hated it, but I still want to give it a try!
If you’re familiar with Kinsella, then I think you’ll enjoy it. But if this is your first novel by the author, you might be disappointed lol.
Every time Ive read a Kinsella, its been for that reason – when I need something light and fluffy to offset all of the gore hehe Havent read this one yet but sounds interesting
Yes, it’s like a palette cleanser!
I loved I Owe You One for the same reasons as you! I can see why some people don’t enjoy her writing, but I love getting sucked into a light fluffy rom com!
Kinsella has so many laugh-out-loud moments that I enjoy as well!
I’ve been seeing I Owe You One popping up on a lot of reading lists, I think I’ll add it for a fun summer read!
It would be a perfect summer read!
I actually really liked No Exit. Granted, there were parts that were FAR from realistic, it was entertaining enough. The Hiding Place is on my radar but I’m not sure I’ll officially put it on the list.
I agree, No Exit was definitely entertaining and I couldn’t stop reading but I think it would make a better movie. Just so much unrealistic action. I gotta see it to believe it! ha!
No Exit sound intense! Too bad it taped off.
It did taper off but it had its moments!
bummer about no exit! hate when a book has potential and falls flat. i liked i owe you one, but didn’t love it. agree about her being a doormat.
OMG, her lack of a spine was the most annoying part of the book! But I love Kinsella and how she makes me LOL!
Ive seen I Owe You One like 4 times today! I need to read it!
It was a cute book. If you’re looking for fluff, it’s the perfect book.
I hope to read The Hiding Place soon, as I did really love The Chalk Man.
-Lauren
I’ll read anything by C. J. Tudor!
The main character in I Owe You One drove me bananas but I did like the ending…
Yes, a complete doormat I think I spent half the book yelling at her (in my head of course) to speak UP!
No Exit missed the mark for me as well.
I don’t think I’ve become so absorbed in a book and then for it to fall flat like that…ugh. So disappointed.
I currently have The Hiding Place and had hoped to read it before the link-up but alas – it did not happen. Glad you enjoyed it though. I also enjoyed Chalk Man too. The Woman Inside sounds messed up and I liked messed up – adding it to my TBR.
I haven’t heard great things about Kinsella’s latest and she’s usually a safe bet for me so I’m glad to hear you liked it!
The first two definitely sound like books I’d enjoy.
I keep going back and forth on wanting to read No Exit and I have I Owe You One on my tbr– hoping to read it this month!
I csnt wait for that Sophia kinsella book to be available for me. Everyone is raving about it!
I really didn’t like I Owe You One, but i think it is because as you said that the main character is such a doormat. It drove me BONKERS. 🙁 I had high hopes! XO – Alexandra
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