February Book Releases

Whew – we are already a few weeks into February, and I can’t believe how fast the year’s going. You can see the books I read last month in this post, but I wanted to share some exciting February book releases that need to be added to your reading list!

While My Baby Sleeps

Ok Natali Simmonds, I see you. While My Baby Sleeps reminded me a lot of The New Mother by Nora Murphy – the beginning so much so, that I assumed it was going to have the same ending. I thought this was so going to be *so* predictable from the third or fourth chapter. My smug, little reader self was ready to give this a three star review for being a “good story, but I played out plotline”

WELL.

Simmonds sure showed me – first, by proving me wrong, then giving me a happy ending, and THEN PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER ME. In the best way.

Lou just moved and has a baby, she’s not sleeping well, and her baby-daddy/partner is picking up more hours at work. Days begin blending together and the tip of the iceberg is when Lou finds out she’s pregnant again. We all know what a lack of sleep can do, and Simmonds handled Lou’s slip in to madness and battle with post partum depression/anxiety/psychosis so so well.

4.5 stars for While My Baby Sleeps, it was a solid psychological thriller with a deep plot and lots of twists 🤌🏻

Thanks to #NetGalley for the audio ARC for review.

A Killing Cold

I am a big fan of Kate Alice Marshall, and while A Killing Cold was compelling and thrilling, it wasn’t as shocking as What Lies in the Woods (see that review here).

Theo has no memories from before she was adopted by a questionable family. Once she finally left, she never looked back… until she visits her wealthy fiancé’s family estate in the mountains. Of course it’s winter, and of course they get snowed in when escape is crucial (this is so overdone, but I was willing to overlook it because I knew Marshall would have some twists waiting for me!)

Memories start to return, and I can’t say more without soiling it. But it has a bit of everything. Generational wealth, secrets, lies, a twisted family dynamic, lesbians, and proof that dogs really are the best because they know what kind of people are good and who is rotten.

I listened to A Killing Cold on audio, and enjoyed the narrator and pace of the story. Definitely add this one to your winter reading list, it’s a favorite of all these February book releases.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the audio ARC for review.

Cold As Hell

Available Feb 18, Cold Has Hell was utterly gripping. I mean, what an intense opening. Kendra may have been drugged, and is being attacked, maybe? Maybe being followed? And then we begin the story.

No, this could be deemed my fault as a reader for jumping in with book number three… But in my experience, you can easily jump into a series like this, because the author usually circles back with a summary of what’s happened in the other books… However, this was fairly confusing. These people live in like a secret came in snowy Northern Canada, with no Internet, no cell phones, and everyone’s like a criminal… A little more background would’ve been helpful, because I was confused almost immediately. The story, however, was an interesting one!

Women are being targeted and left to die in horrifying ways in a small, secluded northern town. With a high risk pregnancy nearing 40 weeks, detective Casey Duncan must race against the clock to solve the case before she delivers the baby. Add in a few pregnancy complications, a serial killer, and some thin ice, and we’ve got ourselves a page-turner! Cold As Hell deserves a spot on your to be read list!

Thanks to #NetGalley for the audio ARC for review.

Soft Core

I listened to Soft Core on audio in one day. While I typically gravitate toward physiological thrillers, this was more of a drama. You can’t help but root for Baby (aka Ruth), as she navigates life, loss, and a string of startling notes.

While I’m sure some people would clutch their pearls and call Soft Core “vulgar”, I thought it was fairly tame for the subject matter!

I liked it all the way up until the end. I didn’t even understand what I read. So many random loose ends. Like the chick got fired and whatshisface was passed out and what happened with that? Not important, I guess. And the other guy is just there in the kitchen and life is happy and perfect? I just don’t know.

Brittany, you had me with Soft Core until you lost me.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the audio ARC for review.