Audiobook Review: Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
Author: Lisa Unger
Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Published: November 8, 2022
Audiobook: 12 hours 20 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: November 8, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars
Book Description:
Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.
What could be more restful, more restorative, than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, complete with spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s loving and generous tech-mogul brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’s his birthday gift to Hannah and includes their spouses and another couple. The six friends need this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R, far from the chatter and pressures of modern life.
But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare. A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep. How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? And who is the new boyfriend, crashing their party? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?
Jessica’s Review:
Secluded Cabin is yet another thriller that intrigued me from the description, but ended up not working for me. I never know when this is going to happen and this was my first novel by Unger, so I am willing to give her another chance, as I do with novels like this that don’t really end up working for me.
I just love the idea of the secluded cabin setting; in fact my husband and I have stayed at a few cabins and I love being out in the woods. Alone. With hopefully no one close by! I love it so much that I freak myself out! But I LOVE IT! We even have a particular movie we will watch every time we stay in a cabin, and I frighten myself out every time we watch it!
For me, this novel fell victim for me because it was like it was made of two stories in one: the secluded cabin story and then a second story dealing with DNA and family but they do end up coming together. I was not interested in the DNA story, I just wanted a secluded cabin where people were being watched and killed! LOL. There were also too many characters for me to keep straight as I listened to the audiobook. There were also too many povs to go with the large cast of characters.
Maybe the next novel I read by Unger will work for me! I have several of hers on my TBR pile!
Book Review: The Perfect Girl by Kelly Golden
The Perfect Girl
Author: Kelly Golden
Published: February 3, 2023
402 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: January 26- February 19, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
He always said she was just a friend… What if she’d kill for more?
Sophie is perfect. She has blonde hair and blue eyes and when she smiles her wide, open, caring smile, her teeth sparkle. Everybody loves her. So would I, except she’s my husband Mike’s best friend, and sometimes they seem a little too close for comfort.
This summer, Sophie is renting the grand house next door, bringing over fancy wine, offering to babysit our beautiful three-year-old daughter. It’s nice, actually. She’s smart and funny. Maybe the way she is with Mike – squeezing his arm, tilting her head when she laughs at his jokes – is just how she is with everybody.
But then she says something that sends a shiver down my spine – does she know something about me she shouldn’t?
And when her new husband arrives, looking slightly too familiar, I realise my time is running out. My baby girl and I are in terrible danger.
Sophie really is perfect. She has me perfectly trapped. And as my world begins to crumble, I start to wonder: does Sophie just want to steal my husband, or has she planned the perfect murder?
Jessica’s Review:
This is the first novel by Kelly Golden and I will be looking at her other novels she writes. This one has an intriguing book description so I was looking forward to reading it. It was not really suspenseful to me until the last 20% or so and I didn’t really connect with Emma, which might be where my issues were. I was intrigued and wanted to see what would happen and that last 20% really packed a punch! Golden came up with the character of Sophie that is just.. Oh wow. Emma was also our only narrator and she was unreliable and well… If you have read my past reviews you know that is hit or miss for me.
I do think men and women can be friends, but Sophie and Mike’s relationship was a bit too much for me as a wife. If my husband was that close with a female friend we would have to have a talk…
But that ending, I need this story to continue! Please Ms. Golden, say you will write more! I feel like you were just getting started with this story!
Despite some issues I had, I did enjoy The Perfect Girl and would recommend it! I can see Golden getting better with her writing as she continues.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review: The Snow Storm by Triona Walsh
The Snow Storm
Author: Triona Walsh
Narrator: Jacqueline Milne
Published: February 2, 2023
Audiobook: 9 hours 56 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: February 6-10, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars
Book Description:
It’s an icy New Year’s Eve. Snow blankets a windswept Irish island as the wild Atlantic Ocean rages.
Six friends gather. It has been ten years since the tragedy that tore them apart. A lot can change in a decade…
Childhood bonds are now lifelong secrets.
Dear friendships have twisted into deep jealousies.
A happy reunion is shattered by a dead body.
The celebrations have barely begun when one of the guests goes missing. As the snow thickens, the body is found.
Then the storm wreaks havoc on the island. Everyone is trapped – there is no way out. No electricity. No phone signal.
Nobody knows who to trust. No one is who they seem. Because one of them is a killer, and one will be dead next…
Jessica’s Review:
You know how sometimes a reader just doesn’t mesh well with a book that seems right up their interests? That has happened before and sadly it happened with The Snow Storm as well. The premise intrigued me but I just couldn’t get into the novel. It comes off similar to Ruth Ware novels, but it just dragged for me.
I don’t know what it was: Was it the unusual names for this American reader that I would have had no idea how to pronounce if I didn’t listen to the audiobook? Was it the narration? Possibly, with the Irish accent I had issues understanding the narrator. Was it a mix of the above and just not the right type of format for me. Maybe. The Snow Storm just did not keep my interest. Maybe it just came at the wrong time for this listener.
Though this one did not work for me I would give the author another chance, just not an audiobook next time around!
**Many thanks to the publisher Bookouture Audio for granting me an audio copy to listen to and review. I just wish I had enjoyed this one much more.
Purchase Links
Amazon US
Amazon UK