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Book Review: The Perfect Ex-Wife by Winter K. Willis

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A Psychological Thriller

Pub Date Dec 02, 2024, by Celestial Bear Publishing

Ramona plays second fiddle to Bradley’s ex-wife, Natasha, who went missing twelve years ago. No matter how hard Ramona tries to be the perfect wife and mother to Bradley and his teenage daughter, Allison, they can’t let go of the past. No matter how hard she tries to be a good mother to Allison, she always says or does the wrong thing, and Allison pushes her further away.

The day two police officers show up at their home to tell them they discovered remains of a woman believed to be Bradley’s Ex-Wife Natasha, they bring in Bradley for questioning and from there everything spirals out of control. Family secrets and betrayal reveal themselves in astonishing ways.  

The Perfect Ex-Wife is told from Natasha and Ramona’s points of view, and it certainly is a page turner from the start. This story touches on a few themes such as alcoholism, depression, adultery, obsession, erratic behavior, neglect, self-serving behavior and devastating consequences for one’s actions. I have to say obsession and desperation drives the plot of this story and the author brilliantly portrays these actions.

What fascinates me about psychological thrillers is exploration of what is reality or what is perceived to be reality in the minds of the characters. Perception is tricky when it comes to the human mind and how we see and experience the world around us and how we perceive other people’s speech, actions and motives. Our perception could easily be distorted, which may lead to serious and devastating consequences for oneself and others when acted upon. I thought a lot about this while reading this story which leads to the unreliable narrator. The characters’ credibility in the story becomes compromised by the ill choices they make due to their perception of reality and their own selfish wants. We see this abundantly with the characters in this story and it leaves you guessing what is true and what is false. The lines quickly blur as the story progresses and before you know it, things take a drastic turn to events.

What a thrilling and suspenseful story.

Stephanie

I obtained a galley copy from Celestial Bear Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 027: NetGalley

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Recently, I’ve started back with book reviewing for publishers via invite through emails and on NetGalley. I also have a backlog of books to review, and I’ve worked on a system to get caught up on my backlog while reviewing ARCS (Advance Reader Copies). There are several reasons why I got behind, but the important thing is I’m catching up.

Firstly, I’m a mood reader so I need to factor in this while selecting the books I want to read and review. I also tend to read several books at once depending on the genre. I’ve been able to read like this for years now due to practice, focus and taking notes.

Secondly, keeping a reading journal, excel sheets and a schedule helps me stay on track. This also takes mindfulness to keep to this routine. Yes, sometimes I get off track because life happens. My reading journal is where I keep the list of books I’ve completed. I have separate notebooks for taking notes for drafting reviews. I also use a calendar book to keep track of when book reviews (other posts) are scheduled to go live on my website.

How I Use Excel for books to review:

I have two excel spread sheets to keep track of my NetGalley books to review. You can also keep track on the NetGalley site as well. They have it all set up for you. I’m using excel as well so I can group my current ARCS and Backlog. I limit how many I put on the spread sheets. This technique helps me from becoming overwhelmed with my backlog. Below is an example of how I group and select the next ones to read and review.

On this post I did not include the pub date and so forth. Which I have on the spread sheets. The books listed are the ones I need and want to have completed before June 2025. The completion is based on the ARCs and their publishing date and when they need to be turned in. After I have read and reviewed these books, I will add to the spread sheets the next group of books to work on. I’m currently averaging about 4 to 8 a month of books read and reviewed. Sometimes that number changes but I make sure that every week I’m turning in a review(s). Right now, I’m reading ARCs during the day and reading a book from my backlog late afternoon and evening.

Stephanie

ARCS (2024-June 2025):

1. Sisters in Science by Olivia – Campbell –Currently reading

2. Babylonia by Costanza Casati 

3. The Sinners All Bow by Kate Winkler Dawson – Currently reading

4. Death Comes in Three by Michael Jecks

5. The Garden by Nick Newman – Recently finished

6. We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein – Finished reading yesterday

7. I died for Beauty by Amanda Flower – Almost finished reading

8. Murder at the Loch by Dee MacDonald

9. The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley    

10. The Secrets of Good People by Boo Walker 

11. The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

12. Boney Creek by Paula Gleeson    

13. One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter

14. Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds by L.V. Pederson

15. Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay 

16. The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective by Sara Lodge –Book has been published. I received a review copy after the pub date.

Backlog:

1. Remember Me by Lesley Pearse

2. Mr. Campion’s Coven by Mike Ripley

3. The Eyes of the Queen by Oliver Clements

4. The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron

5. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

6. Our of the Rain by VC Andrews

7. The Midnight Watch by David Dyer

8. Greenwhich Park by Katherine Faulkner

9. The Bookseller’s Secret by Michelle Gables

10.  A Scream in Soho by John G. Brandon

Already Scheduled Post Dates on Layered Pages: Book Reviews

This schedule is always being added to as I finish writing the posts and choosing a post date.

Book Review: The Perfect Ex-Wife by Winter K. Willis- Nov 25, 2025

Book Review: The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen- Jan 4, 2025

Book Review: Not Our Daughter by Chad Zunker- Feb 2, 2025

Book Review: The Garden by Nick Newman- Feb 10, 2025

Reader’s Log 025: Cover Crush

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Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart by Russ Ramsey – Published October 22, 2024 by Zondervan

What Art Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive  

I love art history and I was thrilled to come across this book from a YouTuber I follow. The cover is a stunning piece of art and the premise of the book sounds intriguing! Are you an art history enthusiast? Adding this one to my wish-list.

Stephanie

Book Description:

Beyond a mere introduction to great art, Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart is about loving to learn what art has to teach us about the wonder and struggle of being alive.

Did you know that:

  • Vincent van Gogh’s attempt to start an artist’s colony with Paul Gauguin lasted only nine weeks, ending in his infamous “ear episode”?
  • Pablo Picasso was a prime suspect in the disappearance of the Mona Lisa?
  • Artemisia Gentileschi was tortured with thumbscrews to verify her testimony at her own rapist’s trial?
  • Norman Rockwell’s critics said his work would never be accepted as “high art”–and he agreed?

These stories–and many more–shaped the work these artists left behind. In their art are lessons common to the human experience about the wonder and struggle of being alive: dreams lost, perspectives changed, and humility derived through suffering.

In Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart, Russ Ramsey digs into these artists’ stories for readers who may be new to art, as well as for lifelong students of art history, to mine the transcendent beauty and hard lessons we can take from their masterpieces and their lives. Each story from some of the history’s most celebrated artists applies the beauty of the gospel in a way that speaks to the suffering and hope we all face.

Reader’s Log 024: Trilogies Part I

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Thomas De Quincey Trilogy by David Morrell

Quite a few years ago now, I had the pleasure to interview and review about David Morrell’s Thomas De Quincey Trilogy. A few weeks ago, I was looking through my book stacks and came across paperback copies of his trilogy. I thought this would be a great story to read again and how it would be a great idea to re-post about his books and the interview I had with him, back in 2013. Gosh, has it really been that long ago since I interviewed David? Time flies! Morell’s Thomas De Quincey Trilogy is a fantastic read and perfect for the fall season to curl up with. By the way, did you know that Morrell is best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become a successful film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone?

Stephanie

Murder as a Fine Art #1

Gaslit London is brought to its knees in David Morrell’s brilliant historical thriller.

Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his memoir ‘Confessions of an English Opium-Eater’, is the major suspect in a series of ferocious mass murders identical to ones that terrorized London forty-three years earlier.

The blueprint for the killings seems to be De Quincey’s essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts.” Desperate to clear his name but crippled by opium addiction, De Quincey is aided by his devoted daughter Emily and a pair of determined Scotland Yard detectives.

In ‘Murder as a Fine Art’, David Morrell plucks De Quincey, Victorian London, and the Ratcliffe Highway murders from history. Fogbound streets become a battleground between a literary star and a brilliant murderer, whose lives are linked by secrets long buried but never forgotten.

My interview with David Morell and review for Murder as a Fine Art

Inspector of the Dead #2

The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. The Empire teeters. Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation.

This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corpse the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself.

My book review of “Inspector of the Dead”

Ruler of the Night #3

Thomas De Quincey is beginning to control his opium addiction when the excitement of his current case threatens to unravel his grip on reality once and for all. On their way home to the Lake District, the De Quinceys become unwitting witnesses to a truly historic murder: the first to take place on one of England’s newly constructed railways.

The railways changed everything in the Victorian era, transforming the English countryside, revolutionizing modern industry, and as the De Quinceys discover, providing the perfect escape. Giving chase in a cat-and-mouse game unlike any that have come before, the De Quinceys uncover a dangerous secret that reaches all levels of English society.

My book review of “Ruler of the Night”

David Morell’s website

Cover Crush: The Garden by Nick Newman

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Whenever I come across a story that entails a walled garden, a boarded house, and eccentric siblings or people in general; I’ve got to check it out! I just hope it isn’t as dark and depressing as the last book I read and couldn’t finish.

Isn’t this book cover beautiful?!

I have an ARC of this book from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review. My review will probably be posted a week or two before the publishing date. –Stephanie

About the book:

Pub Date Feb 18 2025

PENGUIN GROUP Putnam

304 Pages

Description:

In a place and time unknown, two elderly sisters live in a walled garden, secluded from the outside world. Evelyn and Lily have only ever known each other. What was before the garden, they have forgotten; what lies beyond it, they do not know. Each day is spent in languid service to their home: tending the bees, planting the crops, and dutifully following the instructions of the almanac written by their mother.

When a nameless boy is found hiding in the boarded house at the center of their isolated grounds, their once-solitary lives are irrevocably disrupted. Who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly, what does he want?

As suspicions gather and allegiances falter, Evelyn and Lily are forced to confront the dark truths about themselves, the garden, and the world as they’ve known.

Book Review: Heart of the Frontier

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by Brittany Larsen, Jen Geigle Johnson, Jennie Hansen & Carolyn Twede Frank

Heart of the Frontier is a collection of western novellas written by four authors. Each story is about people or families from different places.

There are a few stories that would make a great full-length novel. Particularly, “The Gamble”, the first book in the collection was one I really wanted the story expanded on. The story has a great premise and plot. All of the stories in the book is wonderful and enjoyable to read. I truly didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did.

I appreciate the authors clean romance approach and their focus to the struggles of western frontier life.

I don’t typical read in the western romance genre but the book cover caught my eye, which lead me to find out about the stories. I’m delighted I chose this book and will be adding a physical copy to my book stack.

Below are brief descriptions of the stories.

Stephanie

Description

The Gamble

Brittany Larsen

British aristocrat Thomas Clayborne anticipated a grand adventure in America—but what he imagined is a far cry from the rough-and-tumble reality. When his journey West brings a bold young woman into his life, will he risk everything for true love?

Her Frontier Bandit

Jen Geigle Johnson

When Rebecca and her physician father relocate to a frontier town in desperate need of a doctor, Rebecca believes it will be an opportunity to mend her recently broken heart. But she quickly realizes that no matter how far she runs, true love always finds a way.

Sagebrush Sally

Jennie Hansen

English rose Sally is finding it difficult to bloom in the rugged wasteland of the West. But with two handsome cowboys vying for her affections, it seems that even amid cattle thieves and gunfights, the truest danger lies in losing her heart.

Celebration for Celia

Carolyn Twede Frank

Though Celia generally adores Fourth of July festivities, she finds herself weighed down by uncertainties that dim her anticipation of the holiday. Then fate brings into her life a dashing stranger who is determined to give Celia a celebration she’ll never forget.

Pub Date Jul 01 2021 by Covenant Communications

I obtained a reviewer copy from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

This book is from my backlog list of books to read and review through NetGalley.

Book Review: The Coldest Case by Tessa Wegert

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Pub Date Nov 05 2024

Publishers: Severn House

There is so much to unpack with this story and while I can’t cover everything in this review, I’m just going to share a bit of an overview of some of my thoughts while reading the story.

Book Description:

News of a missing Instagram celebrity brings Senior Investigator Shana Merchant to a frozen island community of just eight people. When the visit turns deadly, her hunt for a killer collides with a cold case she’ll never forget . . .

It’s February in the Thousand Islands and, cut off from civilization by endless ice, eight people are overwintering on tiny, remote Running Pine. Six year-rounders, used to the hard work, isolation and freezing temperatures . . . and two newcomers: social-media stars Cary and Sylvie, whose account documenting their year on the island is garnering thousands of followers, and thousands of dollars’ worth of luxury gifts.

The long-term islanders will tell you Running Pine can be perilous – especially for city slickers who’ll do anything to get the perfect shot. So, when Cary doesn’t return from ice fishing one morning, his neighbors fear the worst.

With the clock ticking to find the missing influencer, a police team are dispatched to take the dangerous journey to the island . . . but Sylvie, his frantic partner, will only talk to one person: newlywed Senior Investigator Shana Merchant.

Where is Cary – and what is it that Sylvie’s not sharing? With aspects of the case reminding Shana of an unsolved homicide from her past that haunts her still, she risks her own safety to help. But little does she know that a storm is coming – and if she doesn’t solve both crimes soon, she may become the island’s next victim . . .

My Thoughts:

Imagine investigating a deadly crime on a secluded island during the harsh winter where a small group of people overwintering are tight knit and deeply rooted in the Islands history. Imagine trying to break a wall of ice-no pun intended- in solving a murder under those conditions. No one can be trusted, no one is safe, everyone is keeping secrets and it is cold. Bone chilling cold. Yeah, that makes a great story-line.

Author Tessa Wegert does a brilliant job weaving all the senses of seclusion with an apocalyptic feel at times. Blended with psychological elements of the small Island’s community heightens the intensity of how vulnerable everyone is on the Island. This would also be the case for Shana Merchant and her team as they investigate the crime. You experience that with the characters throughout the book-particularly as the situation escalates.  

Merchant’s backstory is an interesting one to say the least and this investigation is another test of her mental capabilities in solving the crime. I say this without reading the other books in the series, that is how well Wegert pens a good backstory.

This crime thriller takes dangerous conditions to a whole different level!

Stephanie Hopkins

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 023: Current Read and Difficult Passages

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Differentiating between red herrings and explicit content for shock value or book sales in mystery-thrillers.  

Today, I thought I would share a book I’m currently reading and discuss a little about difficult passages that may be disturbing, or what one may feel is inappropriate. Oftentimes, a reader can come across a scene where they wished they hadn’t read or wish they had just skipped over entirely. But what should one do if they’re reviewing a book for the publisher or author and come across this problem? Should they just give up on the book entirely, or power through it, hoping for the best? Personally, I really think it depends on a few things.

Firstly, it depends on the type of reader you are and what you can handle or not handle. I’ve noticed through the decades the different stages I’ve gone through with reading material. What I will tolerate, what I deemed appropriate or inappropriate. What disturbs me and so forth… Like, is it just for shock value for book sales or does it serve a purpose to drive plot of the story? Does it attest to the character’s human nature and lifestyle? What are the purposes of these scenes?

There can also be that the theme or scene-if you will-upsets one’s psyche on a personal level. One must consider these things when reading physiological thrillers and literature as a whole. If you are a reader who reads widely, even then one can have limits and there is nothing wrong with that; one must use discernment in all things.

I’m currently reviewing an ARC of, “The Last Room on the Left” by Leah Konen at the invite via email from the publishers, and I’ve come across two difficult but brief scenes I could have-in all honestly- done without. It seriously had me pause and considered if I wanted to finish this story or not. The next morning, I reflected more on whether or not to continue with the story. The pause had me ask myself the question whether or not the difficult but brief scenes were a red herring or just shock value. As I read further, I came to the conclusion that they are definitely red herrings. To be honest, the old me would have probably given up on the book entirely. I’m glad I didn’t in this case and I believe the author did a good job with writing these scenes without dragging it out. They serve the right purpose in story-telling, in my opinion.

If you come across scenes when reading books for review, what is the standard you set for yourself, and do you ask or consider the questions I mentioned above?  

Edit: My review for, “The Last Room on the Left” by Leah Konen will be posted on January 4, 2025.

Stephanie

The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen

Expected publication January 14, 2025 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons – Penguin Random House

Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ . . .

Book Review: A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair

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As Katie Lynch makes her way home, she spots a car on the side of the road that seems to be in trouble. As she approaches the car, she soon recognizes the motorist as Jerome. He appears to be in some sort of trance and says the word “Cold”.  She loans him her jacket and is deeply concerned about him and decides to go get help. Shortly after her decision to get help, an officer shows up identifying himself as Deputy Brown. In so many words, he tells her that he has it under control, and she can be on her way. After she leaves, she can’t get her mind off what happened. The next day she calls Point Pleasant, West Virginia sheriff’s department to speak to her friend Officer Ryan to find out if Jerome is okay. She quickly discovers that there is no Deputy Brown and Jerome was never admitted to the hospital. Officer Ryan, knowing it isn’t likely for Katie to make things up and considering the town’s strange, odd and disturbing occurrences, begins to investigate the disappearance of Jerome which connects them to the mysteries of the town’s lore of the Mothman, UFO sightings around the town and the TNT and lights appearing in the sky.

As the story unfolds further, Katie’s young son’s father shows up in town out of the blue-which is a threat, and it comes apparent that there is more to the story of why he showed up in the first place. Officer Caden, Officer Ryan’s brother, helps his brother and Katie to solve the mystery of Jerome’s disappearance and the town’s troubles.  As they race to solve the mysterious and troubling happenings in their town, while keeping Katie’s son safe, Katie and Ryan form an attachment and become involved.

Another of the many elements of this story is the relationship between Katie and her mother, Doreen. Without giving too much away, their story touches on a troubled past in more ways than one, which leads to a strained relationship and Katie keeping her mom at arm’s length. Is there healing and forgiveness in the mother and daughter relationship? I’m glad the author wrote this in the story and will leave an impression on many readers’ hearts.

This book is the second in a trilogy and I recommend reading the first book in the series before beginning this one. That said, while there are a few details that are unclear to me, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of reading this story. After I read this book, I was curious if there is such a thing called “The Mothman” lore and what was the TNT. I discovered that such a place and the lore exist! This made, “A Cold Tomorrow” even more intriguing and mysterious.

Readers who enjoy reading about lore, UFOs and small-town events will enjoy this entertaining story.

I rated this book three and a half stars but bumped it up to four stars due to my interest in the lore and TNT.

Stephanie Hopkins

Pub Date Dec 20 2016 by Kensington Books

I obtained a reviewer copy from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 022: The Supernatural Genre and Spiritual Warfare

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I woke up this morning reflecting on our world’s current events and my faith in God weighs the outcome on how I respond to these current events. The world’s troubles are always on my mind, like I’m sure it is for everyone. We are living in unsettling times. When I pray to God, I ask for peace and understanding. I pray for courage, strength, protection, healing, and stronger faith in my daily walk with Christ. I pray this for others as well. If it weren’t for my Christian Faith, I don’t believe I would have made it this far in life.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about how would I respond to the US elections outcome this coming November. Whatever the outcome, I pray for a peaceful transfer of power in our government and how our citizens and the world response. I pray that our government officials will truly care about the people’s welfare. These things have me thinking about spiritual warfare as well and how we as Christians should rest in God’s strength and stand on God’s promise, how important it is to know God’s word and to put on the full armor of God. When people come to know Christ as their Lord and savior, spiritual warfare can become intense. I’ve recently thought about books I’ve read on spiritual warfare. The Bible-of course-is number one.

As a reader, I love stories and I read many different genres. I believe it is important for people of Faith to read widely for many reasons. Some brothers and sisters in Christ may disagree with me on that score but I’m okay with that. God knows my heart and I firmly believe that reading widely makes us better people and as we expand our minds, we have a better understanding other people’s world views, struggles and situations in life. Reading enhances our critical thinking thus giving us the knowledge and the tools to help us in life with relationships to others. Anyhow, reading widely is another subject for another time.

Today, I want to share two books I read in the early 90’s and again in the late 90’s on spiritual warfare by Frank E. Peretti. I have my father’s paperback copies. Since they are early editions, and have become a bit fragile, I’m having handle them carefully. Though I believe they will still be okay to read in and may do so again soon. If you haven’t read them, whether you are a Christ follower or not, I highly recommend you read these books. They are prevalent to our humanity and our society as a whole.

Stephanie

This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti

First Published – January 1, 1986 by Crossway Books

Ashton is just a typical small town. But when a skeptical reporter and a prayerful pastor begin to compare notes, they suddenly find themselves fighting a hideous New Age plot to subjugate the townspeople, and eventually the entire human race.

Piercing the Darkness by Frank E. Peretti

First published January 1, 1989

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5 (ESV)

It all begins in Bacon’s Corner, a tiny farming community far from the interstate . . . An attempted murder, a case of mistaken-or is it covered up? -identity, and a ruthless lawsuit against a struggling Christian school. Sally Beth Roe, a young loner, a burnout, a kind of “leftover hippie, “finds herself caught in the middle of these bizarre events, fleeing for her life while trying to recall her dark past.

Across a vast panorama of heart-stopping action, Sally Roe’s journey is a penetrating portrayal of our times, a reflection of our wanderings, and a vivid reminder of the redemptive power of the Cross. A companion volume to This Present Darkness, readers have purchased over two million copies of Piercing the Darkness since its publication in 1989.

**********

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)