“Evil Thing” by Serena Valentino

I do not want to feel sorry for Cruella, yet here I am saying to myself, “It’s no wonder she turned into a puppy-stealing, dog-murdering, canine-fur-coat-making, maniacal villain and sovereign of Hell Hall””

“Evil Thing” by Serena Valentino explains just how the sweet young girl turned into the evil, penniless Cruella De Vil. The author also explains her trademark black/white hair, black slip dress, red lipstick and heels, fur coat, and jade earrings. Oh, those earrings!

This is the 7^th book in the series. Although it is not my favorite in the series (I have read a couple of the others), it is fun to read especially if you are a fairy tale or Disney fan. In all fairness, Cruella is not my favorite villain, either. I specifically like that these are not just rehashings of the classic fairy tale or beloved Disney movie, but the fresh, backstory of the villain. These are all standalone books, but the author does recommend reading in order.

I especially love these covers; they look great on a bookshelf. Her tagline for the series if perfect, “Evil is made, not born.” In these cases, she is undeniably correct; life plays a huge part of who we are and what we become!

Publication Date: July 7, 2020

Genre: Fairy tale, fantasy, young adult, retelling, fiction

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 4 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

#EvilThing #NetGalley

"The Girl From Widow Hills" by Megan Miranda

We have all seen those iconic pictures on the news, magazines and book covers, and social media: the fireman carrying the baby after the Oklahoma City bombing, Jaycee Dugard, Baby Jessica, Madeleine McCann. But do we ever stop to think about how their lives changed? Not by the event that catapulted them into the news, but by being in the limelight forevermore. And not only their lives, but the lives of their spouse, children, parents, and/or friends. Just about the time things may return to some semblance of normalcy for them, the ten; twenty; or even thirty-year anniversary creeps up on them and they are thrown into the media again. It is never ending. 

“The Girl from Widow Hills” by Megan Miranda delves into just what happens to someone who is thrust into the limelight and how it affects everyone involved.

Arden Maynor, the girl from Widow Hills, was only six when she was swept away during a flash flood while sleepwalking. Miraculously, she was found three days later by a member of a search party; she was clinging to the inside of a storm drain. What happened to her during that time? How had she survived? How did she receive the odd injuries?

Flash forward almost twenty years. Arden has changed her name to Olivia, moved from Kentucky to North Carolina, and managed to create a life separate from that event. She lives in a remote area with only one neighbor nearby. Strangely, she remembers nothing from the event other than being found.

However, with the twenty-year anniversary looming in the back of her mind, and the recent death of her estranged mother, she begins sleepwalking again. She feels like someone is watching her, hears strange noises, and also has more night terrors. She awakens late one night in her yard and stumbles over a body. A body that she later finds is connected to her past as Arden Maynor.

The story is told with a mixture of current events and old transcripts, interviews, and press conferences from 2000 and shortly after. Loved the mixture that gave the reader background info.

“The Girl from Widow Hills” is a great thriller that kept me up late into the night to find out just what happened to Arden when she was six and what was happening to her now.  As with Megan Miranda’s books, she weaves a excellent story and ties everything up satisfyingly at the end.

Publication Date: June 23, 2020

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Psychological Thrillers, Family Secrets

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 4.5 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

#TheGirlFromWidowHills #NetGalley