[Review] Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner

Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner
Series: Tessa Leoni, #3
Publisher: Dutton
Publishing Date: Feb. 3, 2015
Format: ARC, paperback
386 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis

My name is Nicky Frank. Except, most likely, it isn’t.

Nicole Frank shouldn’t have been able to survive the car accident, much less crawl up the steep ravine. Not in the dark, not in the rain, not with her injuries. But one thought allows her to defy the odds and flag down help: Vero.

I’m looking for a little girl. I have to save her. Except, most likely, she doesn’t exist.

Sergeant Wyatt Foster is frustrated when even the search dogs can’t find any trace of the mysterious missing child. Until Nicky’s husband, Thomas, arrives with a host of shattering revelations: Nicole Frank suffers from a rare brain injury and the police shouldn’t trust anything she says.

My husband claims he’ll do anything to save me. Except, most likely, he can’t.

Who is Nicky Frank, and what happened the night her car sailed off the road? Was it a random accident or something more sinister given the woman’s lack of family and no close friends? The deeper Wyatt digs, the more concerned he becomes. Because it turns out, in the past few months, Nicky has suffered from more than one close accident. . . . In fact, it would appear someone very much wants her dead.

This is my life. Except, most likely, it’s not. Now watch me crash and burn.

My Review

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I was really excited to start this book when I first got it! I jumped right into it and couldn't put it down! This book is not what I was exactly expecting! And I mean that in a good way. I can't describe too much of they story because then it will ruin it, but let's just say it was really good! Lisa Gardner knows how to write a story very well and I always look forward to what she'll write next. I really like Tessa Leoni; yes, she's made some questionable decisions, but she's truly looking out for her daughter and herself. Then comes Wyatt Foster - he's not her knight in shining armor because he can't solve all her problems. But he's there for her when she needs him and I'm hoping they stick it out! 

Nicky and Thomas Frank weren't what I was expecting, whatsoever. And what about Vero? Who is she and how does she fit into this story? Throughout the book, we learn more details that help us figure it out. But right when I think I know what's going on, something else happens that completely throws me for a loop! You never really know who you can trust and that makes me love this story even more! Gardner is a master storyteller and I always look forward to what she has in store for us next. I highly, highly suggest you read her work! 

Others in this series: 

 Review                          Review

[Review] Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner

Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner
Series: Tessa Leoni, #2
Publisher: Signet
Publishing Date: Feb. 5, 2013
Format: paperback, purchased
442 Pages
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis 

This is my family: Vanished without a trace…

Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life that looks good in the pages of a glossy magazine. A beautiful fifteen-year old daughter, Ashlyn. A gorgeous brownstone on a tree-lined street in Boston’s elite Back Bay neighborhood. A great marriage, admired by friends and family. A perfect life.

This is what I know: Pain has a flavor…

When investigator Tessa Leoni arrives at the crime scene in the Denbes’ home, she finds scuff marks on the floor and Taser confetti in the foyer. The family appears to have been abducted, with only a pile of their most personal possessions remaining behind. No witnesses, no ransom demands, no motive. Just an entire family, vanished without a trace.

This is what I fear: The worst is yet to come…

Tessa knows better than anyone that even the most perfect façades can hide the darkest secrets. Now she must race against the clock to uncover the Denbes’ innermost dealings, a complex tangle of friendships and betrayal, big business and small sacrifices. Who would want to kidnap such a perfect little family? And how far would such a person be willing to go?

This is the truth: Love, safety, family…it is all touch and go.

My Review

This is the second book in the Tessa Leoni series and I really enjoyed it. It did take me a little bit to get into, but I think that had more to do with starting it around Christmas and getting a bunch of new books that I really want to read. This book had a lot going on right away; the Denbe family goes missing and we start learning about all these secrets each family member harbors. I really like Tessa as a character in this series. If you read the previous book in this series, Love You More, you'll know why she's such an interesting character. I don't want to say too much about it, but Tessa claims to have shot her husband in self-defense (this is on the synopsis of the book, so I'm not ruining anything). We really see her grow throughout these two books, both as a law enforcement personnel and as a mother. She works on this case with a sheriff's officer, Wyatt, and you can feel their chemistry from the beginning! 

What I really liked about this book is it was so detailed. The business of Denbe Construction was described really well and we found out all the key players in the business. There were so many times I thought I knew who kidnapped the family, but then something else happened and I couldn't be sure any more! Once the holidays were over, I began reading this again and couldn't put it down. I ended up staying up well past my normal bedtime to finish and couldn't wait to tell my husband about it the next day. I recently received an ARC of Crash & Burn, the third in the Tessa Leoni series, and I can't wait to dive in! I want to know if anything happens between Tessa and Wyatt! I always love a little romance between characters, even if it isn't the main part of the story. 

Others in the Series

Stacking the Shelves! 12.20.14

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews. Its all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, whether physical or virtual books. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course, ebooks! Tynga posts this meme on Saturdays, but you can post on any day that works best for you! Check out the guidelines by visiting Tynga's blog! 

ARC

I was so excited to find this beauty on my doorstep today!! I seriously cannot wait to start reading it! I actually started last night and got a few pages into it, but then I realized that its actually the 3rd book in the Tessa Leoni series. I've read the first and I have the second sitting on my shelf, so I going to read that one next and then Crash & Burn. I know I can read this one as a stand-alone, but I'd rather read it in order. Ahh! So exciting :) 

What books, physical or virtual, did you add to your shelves this week?!

Stacking the Shelves! 12.6.14

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews. Its all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, whether physical or virtual books. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course, ebooks! Tynga posts this meme on Saturdays, but you can post on any day that works best for you! Check out the guidelines by visiting Tynga's blog! 

 

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin 

Hide by Lisa Gardner 

I Do (But I Don't) by Cara Lockwood

Some great books added to my shelves! Can't wait to jump in and read these! I've read books by Gardner and Giffin before, but never Lockwood! :) 

Top Ten Tuesday 8.5.14

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the The Broke and the Bookish. Every week she posts an idea for a 'Top Ten' list relating to books, and encourages other book bloggers to respond and participate. All the details are listed on her site.

This week's question: Top ten books (and authors) I'd recommend to those who haven't read mysteries. 

I absolutely love mysteries and I feel like they often get left out in the book blogging world where young adult tends to take over. I read pretty much any genre, so you'll see a wide variety on my blog, but within the last few years, I've really gotten into mysteries!

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it! 

James Patterson 

Ok, I'd recommend pretty any one of his books because I love them all! I've mostly been reading his standalone novels and the Women's Murder Club series, but I am going to slowly make my way to the Alex Cross series (: The Postcard Killers and Women's Murder Club are probably among my favorites of his. 

 

Blue Smoke and the Nightshade Series by Nora Roberts

These books are romantic suspense, so it's definitely what drew me to them first. I used to only read romance novels, but after these, I started reading more suspense/mystery. 

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

I LOVED this book. It's about a girl who dies and her mom tries to figure out what happened to her. Highly recommend! 

Lisa Gardner

My first book of hers was The Neighbor and I've been hooked ever since! Her Detective DD Warren series is the one I'm currently working on, but I've found a few of her other novels and series that I can't wait to start! 

   

In The Woods by Tana French 

First novel of hers that I read, but it won't be the last! She knows how to suck you in with these mysteries!

Missing You and Six Years by Harlan Coben 

I've only discovered Coben within the last year or so, but I can't get enough of his work! 

Chill Factor by Sandra Brown

If you like a little romance, then pick up this mystery/suspense! It's a great way to ease into mysteries if you're not too sure. This is one of my absolute favorite novels of hers! 

Iris Johansen

She's good. I haven't read her work recently, but I have one or two on my TBR pile to get to!