Book Review: Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi

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Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi  was published on March 11, 2025 by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Bantam. It opens with Claire finding out that her fiancé, Noah, isn't working where he said he was and is now ghosting her. Claire must find out why. Book Review: Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Bantam for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Claire Darling by Callie Kazumi for free in exchange for my honest review. I was absolutely thrilled when my request for a copy was approved because the synopsis was so good. From the beginning, I absolutely loved the main character of Claire and her work friend named Sukhi. Throughout the novel, we learn about Claire's past and how terrible her mother was towards her. I kept hoping that somehow we would learn who Claire's father was and would eventually connect with him. It's really no wonder Claire had no self confidence as an ad...
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Book Review: Trapper Road (Stillhouse Lake, #6) by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan

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book review trapper road stillhouse lake 6 rachel caine carrie ryan

Gwen Proctor and Same Cade are back with the rest of the crew in Trapper Road (Stillhouse Lake, #6) by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan.  A school shooting happens at the local high school, and Connor's best friend is behind it.  When a teenage girl goes missing in Gardenia, South Carolina, and Gwen is sent to investigate, it's perfect timing for her family to get away from all the publicity from the shooting.

This latest edition in the Stillhouse Lake book series is a bittersweet one.  I am so thankful that Rachel Caine started outlining and writing Trapper Road before her passing and that Carrie Ryan finished it for her.  Rachel would have been proud of the way Carrie finished the manuscript for her.  Based on the acknowledgements at the end of the story, I halfway think that Carrie Ryan may be continuing the series.  One can dream, right?

For those who have yet to read Trapper Road, this book does deal with very real situation of school shootings.  I am thankful that I haven't experienced such a thing and no one I know has either, but the way the shooting and the aftermath was written seemed very realistic.  My heart was pounding throughout the chapters dealing with it, and I don't know how I'd deal with something like this if I were in that situation.  

The other very realistic situation that was written throughout the book was that of a teenage girl that goes missing when she accepts a ride with someone she met online.  I won't reveal what happens, but this whole situation is another that I couldn't imagine and wouldn't wish on anyone.

I tried to savor this novel as long as I could, but once I got halfway through, I couldn't help myself . . . I couldn't wait to find out what would happen and read it as quickly as I could.  There isn't anything I would change about Trapper Road.  It's such a fantastic read. Five out of five stars.

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