Monday, September 1, 2025

Bodies In The Sand by Chrystal Murphy

Friends who did harmless pranks turned into deadly ones.

Jenna, Kaitlyn, and Lauren play games of dare with rules they have to follow.


Two of the games involved seeing who could steal a car and who could steal the most merchandise from a store  - not a good game, but better than the one where they chose a game of murdering someone they hated.


I was biting my nails at the thought of playing this game of murdering someone and especially how they were so nonchalant about it.


It was a well written book but has a very bizarre storyline that I’m not sure I’d recommend except for the unbelievability of what these characters do.


And the unbelievability of it makes you not able to put it down because they leave little nuggets that make you curious.


Need something different, out of the ordinary, and quite unusual but a pull-you-in read?  BODIES IN THE SAND should fit the bill.


I actually was shaking my head at the ending.  4/5


Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book.   All opinions are my own.



Mailbox Monday - 9/1/2025

  

BOOKMAIL THAT ARRIVED THIS WEEK.

WHAT ARRIVED FOR YOU?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. 

Mailbox Monday is now hosted by Vicki!!

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On Thursday, August 28, I received:

1.   THE VANISHING PLACE by Zoe Rankin, courtesy of Anna Venckus of Penguin Random House and NetGalley.
 

2.   SUCH A CLEVER GIRL by Darby Kane, courtesy of Deanna Bailey of William Morrow, Harper Collins, and NetGalley.
 

3.   THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani, courtesy of Simon & Schuster and Library Thing - a win from Library Thing.


4.    THE HIRED MAN by Sandra Dallas, courtesy of Austin Adams of St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.
 
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On Friday, August 29, I received:

1.  WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EDDY CRANE by Kate Crane, courtesy of Harlequin Trade, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley.
 
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It's Monday!! What Are YOU Reading? - 9/1/2025

                                         http://bookdate.blogspot.com/

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I hope you had a great reading week.
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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE!

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.
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Books Completed:

THE VIOLET HOUR by Victoria Benton Frank - review will be on September 29, 2025.

Sullivan's Island Fans and women's fiction fans will love this one.

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TAHOE SPEED by Todd Borg - review will be on September 28, 2025.

Another great story with all the familiar characters.  Todd Borg Fans will be thrilled.

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THE GARBAGE MAN by Tessa Pacelli - review will be on September 23, 2025.

Too techie for me.

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ICING ON THE MURDER by Valerie Burns - review will be on September 25, 2025.

A fun, enjoyable cozy mystery.  

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THE GUEST IN ROOM 120 by Sara Ackerman - spotlight will be on September 26, 2025.

Couldn't get interested.

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THE OTHER EMMA by Sharon Gloger Friedman - review is in the book's title.

Excellent, excellent, excellent....loved it.

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THE RIGHTEOUS by Ronald A. Balson - spotlight will be on September 9, 2025.

Not a favorite of his for me.  I usually love his books.

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THE WIVES OF HAWTHORNE LANE by Stephanie DeCarolis - review will be on September 22, 2025.

A tense thriller with characters with secrets.  

Alert:  Domestic Abuse

But - what a twist toward the end!!

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THE WASP TRAP by Mark Edwards - review will be on September 18, 2025.

A good one - first time I have read this author.

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NO REST FOR THE WICKED by Rachel Louise Adams - review will be on September 17, 2025.

Well written, but not a favorite.

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A MURDEROUS BUSINESS by Cathy Pegau - review will be on September 16, 2025.

A light mystery with great characters.

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BEES IN JUNE by Elizabeth Bass Parman - review will be on September 4, 2025.

LOVED this book.  A hopeful, sweet, pleasurable read.  

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THE GIRL IN THE GREEN DRESS by Mariah Fredericks - review will be on September 3, 2025.

Gorgeous cover and a good read.

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THE CABERNET CLUB by Margie Zable Fisher and Rona S. Zable - review will be on September 2, 2025.

A delightful book with wonderful characters.   Loved it!!


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BODIES IN THE SAND by Crystal Murphy - review will be on September 1, 2025.

A fun, different book - it's good.

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THE HARVEY GIRLS by Juliette Faye - review is in the book's title.

Oh my - SO GOOD.  Historical fiction fans will love it.  

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SHIP OF DREAMS by Donna Jones Alward - review is in the book's title.

Another good one by Ms. Alward.   Two great characters on the Titanic - do they survive or perish?

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THE SECRET BOOK SOCIETY by Madeline Martin - spotlight is in the book's title.

Wasn't what I thought it would be.  

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THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKSHOPS by Poppy Alexander - review is in the book's title.

LOVED IT!!  A sweet read.

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FORGET ME NOT by Stacy Willingham - review is in the book's title.

A slow startup, but oh so good.   Don't miss it.

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THE SECOND CHANCE BUS STOP by Alli Zetterberg - review is in the book's title.

A bit confusing, but a good read.  An emotional read.

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THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW by Pamela Terry - spotlight is in the book's title.

I still loved her book THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES the best.   This was not a favorite.

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THE MARIGOLD COTTAGES MURDER COLLECTIVE by Jo Nichols - review is in the book's title.

Not my usual read, but it was enjoyable.

Quirky characters.

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ONE DARK NIGHT by Hannah Richell - review is in the book's title.

An OK read.

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JOY MOODY IS OUT OF TIME by Kerryn Mayne - spotlight is in the book's title.

Was excited because I loved her last book.  This is a bit too out there for me.

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IT'S NOT HER by Mary Kubica - review is on Goodreads, but other reviews will be on February 3, 2026.

SO GOOD - DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!  Might be her best one yet!!  :)

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Book Currently Reading:

THE LOST STORY OF EVA FUENTES by Chanel Cleeton - review will be on September 30, 2025.

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Books Up Next:

DINNER AT THE NIGHT LIBRARY by Hika Harada - review will be on October 1, 2025.

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THE SECRET OF ORANGE BLOSSOM CAKE by Rachel Linden - review will be on October 2, 2025.

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THE LIBRARIANS by Sherry Thomas - review will be on October 5, 2025.

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THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO by Adriana Trigiani - review will be on October 6, 2025.
 
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THE HITCHHIKERS by Chevy Stevens - review will be on October 7, 2025.

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THE CHRISTMAS KEEPSAKE by Annie Rains - review will be on October 10, 2025.

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THE MAD WIFE by Meagan Church - review will be on October 12, 2025.

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THE GALLERY ASSISTANT by Kate Belli - review will be on October 14, 2025.

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THE MISSING PAGES by Alyson Richman - review will be on October 15, 2025.

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THE GIRL FROM THE RED ROSE MOTEL by Susan Beckham Zurenda - review wil be on October 16, 2025.

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WHISTLING WOMEN AND CROWING HENS by Melora Fern - review will be on October 22, 2025.

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THE BONE THIEF by Vanessa Lillie - review will be on October 28, 2025.

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THE LAST LOVE SONG by Lucinda and Harry Whittaker - review will be on October 30, 2025.

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OTHERWISE ENGAGED by Susan Mallery - review will be on November 2.

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THE FORGET-ME-NOT LIBRARY by Heather Webber - review will be on November 4, 2025.

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THE HIDDEN CITY by Charles Finch - review will be on November 5, 2025.

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THE PERFECT HOSTS by Heather Gudenkauf - review will be on November 6, 2025.


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THE VANISHING PLACE by Zoe Rankin - review will be on November 9, 2025.
 
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THE BRIDESMAID by Cate Quinn - review will be on November 10, 2025.

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QUEEN ESTHER by John Irving - review will be on November 11, 2025.

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MALARIA by Suede D. Goldman - review will be on November 13, 2025.

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HEMLOCK LANE by Marshall Fine - review will be on November 25, 2025.

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THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS by Jennie Godfrey - review will be on December 2, 2025.

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FRIENDS AND LIARS by Kit Frick - review will be on December 3, 2025.

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NO ONE ABOARD by Emy McGuire - review will be on December 4.

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THE WORLD AT HOME by Ginny Kubitz Moyer - review will be on December 9, 2025.

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THE RICH GUY'S WIFE by Bonnie Traymore - review will be on December17, 2025.

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WILDWOOD by Amy Pease - review will be on January 6, 2026.

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THE STORM by Rachel Hawkins - review will be on January 7, 2026.

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WATCHING OVER HER by Jean-Baptiste Andrea - review will be on January 8, 2025.

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NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE by Sophie Hannah - review will be on January 20, 2026.

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SUCH SHELTERED LIVES by Alyssa Sheinmel - review will be on January 21, 2026.

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SUCH A CLEVER GIRL by Darby Kane - review will be on January 23, 2025.
 
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THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND by Jessie Garcia - review will be on January 28, 2026.

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FAMILY DRAMA by Rebecca Fallon - review will be on February 4, 2026.

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WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda - review will be on February 5, 2026.

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OURS IS A TALE OF MURDER by Nora Murphy - review will be on February 10, 2026.

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THE KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson - review will be on February 11, 2026.

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A SOCIOPATH'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE by MK Oliver - review will be om February 17, 2026.

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A GOOD ANIMAL by Sara Maurer - review will be on February 24, 2026.

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YOU DID NOTHING WRONG by CG Drews - review will be on March 17, 2026.

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THE HIRED MAN by Sandra Dallas - review will be on March 31, 2026.
 
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LOVE BY THE BOOK by Jessica George - review will be on April 7, 2026.

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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EDDY CRANE by Kate Crane - review will be on April 8, 2026.
 
 
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MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth - review will be on April 21, 2026.

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