Never Lie: a domestic psychological thriller with unreliable narrators

Never Lie by Freida McFadden is a domestic psychological thriller with twists and turns. Tricia and Ethan are newlyweds who are searching for their dream house. They come to the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who disappeared without a trace. When they are forced to stay at the estate when a sudden blizzard blocks the roads. In her search to pass the time, Tricia comes across a secret room filled with taped sessions of Dr Hale with her patients. Tricia learns the chain of events and a web of lies unravels which led to Dr Hale’s disappearance. As the blizzard rages outside, there are strange events happening inside. Are Tricia and Ethan alone in the house? Or is someone watching? 

I have seen Freida McFadden books everywhere online; however, I haven’t had the opportunity to read one before. Never Lie is my first book by Ms. McFadden. It was a fast paced, easy to read, engaging story. With narrators you aren’t sure you should trust, readers will pick up clues and watch as twists and turns of a rollercoaster until the final page. I closed the book with a sense of awe and amazed at the all around craziness that occurred on the page. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I wasn’t wowed by it but I enjoyed it. I will try other Ms McFadden’s books in the future. If you enjoy fast paced psychological thrillers, I recommend Never Lie. 

Never Lie is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Ask me about my uterus: one woman's journey to seek answers for her pain

Ask Me about My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctor’s Believe in Women’s Pain by Abby Norman is her own journey through a painful past to deal with a painful medical condition which many doctors do not fully understand. As a young college student, Ms. Norman began to experience painful, stabbing cramps that would keep her bed ridden for days. She is finally diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition which isn’t fully understood even with today’s medical technology and knowledge. Ms. Norman discusses the journey of women’s medical knowledge through the ages and even in psychology as it was thought that women’s pains and conditions were caused by hysteria originating in the uterus. Does she ever get the answers she’s looking for? What can doctors learn by listening more closely to their female patients?

I originally chose this book because I know many women who suffer from conditions with no real explanations or solutions, who still struggle to find answers. I expected this book to be so much more than it was. I thought she would focus on her journey for answers and help other women reading her story to fight for their answers. However, she tended to focus more on her troubled and horrific childhood. There are a few statements Ms. Norman makes which I don’t agree with or question the age of such knowledge. At one point, she makes the claim that women are more likely to be given sedatives after surgery and men are given painkillers. I’m not sure where she got this information, as she doesn’t give any references that I saw, but this has not been my experience with surgery at all. However, it is a disturbing thought to think about if it is true for even one female patient in pain. I recommend Ask Me about My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctor’s Believe in Women’s Pain as a tool, inspiration to help women confront their doctors to listen more closely.

Ask me about My Uterus:

A Quest to Make Doctor’s Believer in Woman’s Pain

is available in hardcover and eBook

Figuring it out with Grace: a story of the search for true love

Figuring it Out with Grace by JD Tynan is the long search for true love. The story features Grace Gibbs, a psychology professor who is searching for her soul mate and goes through a series of men. Until one day she has had enough and searches for the one who got away.

Grace is 35 and single again. The story flashbacks and forth as the reader is introduced to Jared Moore, Grace’s childhood best friend and the one who got away. Grace takes the reader through growing up with her parents’ divorce, her mom’s revolving door romances and sexual awareness of Jared Moore. As she reminisces, she realizes what is wrong in her life and moves forward to change. Will she be able to find Jared? Will he forgive her? Will she ever find happiness with a family of her own?

I enjoyed Figuring it out with Grace. In many ways, I could related with Grace with her family history and trying to overcome the family cycles which has plagued her life. I enjoyed seeing her happy and laughed with her as all her dreams come true. I loved the building tension between Grace and Jared as they both fight against what they need to do and what they want to do. I really enjoyed Jared’s character. I also enjoyed Grace’s discovery that everything looks perfect from the outside but once you get a glimpse inside, you can see that everything is far from perfect. Figuring it out with Grace is a great story about one woman’s journey to find her soul mate.

Figuring it out with Grace

Is available at Amazon

On the Kindle for $2.99

And in paperback for $17.95