Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon

 Published in 2008.  

Themes:  kidnapping, family problems, incest, sexual abuse

My Ratings - 5 ⭐

Enjoyment - 5/5

Writing - 5/5

Characters - 3/5

Plot - 2/5

Readability - 5/5

Setting - 5/5

What did you think of the book?  What will you take away from it?

It was easy to follow and an interesting premise.  I'm not sure I would have chosen the strange white rabbit theme though - I wonder what the symbolism is here.

What was the aim of the book, and how well did the author fulfill it?

Fantasy mixing with reality.  It was definitely well relayed, in my opinion, with certain aspects.  For example, how the young girl was "method acting" by embodying a dirty pirate because she was trying to become her character in the play, Captain Hook.  When in reality she was trying to stay dirty so her father wouldn't be interested in her (gross on several levels).

Would you recommend this book to others?  Who is the target audience?

Yes.  It's a good thriller and could appeal to many true/kinda true crime fanatics.  However, I hated the rape idea of it.  

One-sentence Book Review

The white rabbit was always meant to be seen but never followed.

Thoughts, Notes, Summary

**Spoiler Alert**

Rhonda watches a little girl get kidnapped by a white rabbit in broad daylight.

History of Rhonda:

• In love with Peter
• Peter is married to Tock
• Peter's sister and father are missing
• Peter's sister, Lizzy, was Rhonda's best friend
• Peter's mother was married to Rhonda's father before her parents 
• Peter is not Rhonda's father's son

So what happened?

• Peter's dad was raping Lizzy
• Lizzy killed her dad
• Peter and Tock hid the body in the stage
• Peter made Rhonda and the others destroy the stage
• Lizzy ran away
• No one looked for the Dad in the stage
• The girl who was kidnapped in the beginning was kidnapped by a store owner's nephew in a white rabbit suit
• Store owner's nephew has an accident - little girl is killed - he hides the body
• Store owner befriended the girl and staged the kidnapping because she lost her sister

Rhonda knew nothing but was always there

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

 What did you think of the book?  What will you take from it?

Too gory and a whole lot of nonsense.  There were many elements that were added that had nothing to do with the plot.  I didn't think the ending was believable at all.  I did not like any of the characters.

What was the aim of the book, and how well did the author fulfill it?

My guess is shock and awe, but I think she was aiming for a nurture v. nature and parental choices argument.  The main character places her child up for adoption because she is young and doesn't want to raise a rapist's baby.  However, she did not want to abort it either.  Eventually the child becomes a serial killer, much like his father but the mother is far from innocent.

Would you recommend the book to others?  Who is the target audience?

I wouldn't recommend it but there may be others interested.

One sentence book review

Sometimes being a terrible person can be inherited.

Thoughts and notes

Geo helps hide the body of her friend Angela who was murdered by Geo's boyfriend after he raper her in front of Geo.  They were all drunk, but he's just no good.  The boyfriend then becomes a serial killer.  He rapes Geo and she gets pregnant.  The son is adopted but later also becomes a serial killer targeting mothers who gave their children up for adoption and their children!!! Adopted son tracks Geo down and tripe to rape and kill her (gross!).  In the meantime, she has sex with the cop who arrested her and was her childhood friend.  We find out Geo was the one who cup up Angela because Clay couldn't do it.  Geo is now pregnant with the cop's baby.  What a recipe for disaster!

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

 What would you do if your father married someone younger than you?  What about if he was planning to marry this younger woman while your mother was still alive AND they were still married?  

I mean just that is enough to shock, but Hepworth doesn't stop here.  She adds in many different psychological dynamics, including kleptomania, stress eating, and let's not forget the many facets of abusive husbandry!

There are three main characters - the 3 thirty-year-old females, 2 sisters and the wife to be.  Each of them comes with their own sets of problems.

• Tully - kleptomaniac with various doses of anxiety.  One of her children seems to suffer from a case of it, too.  But no one is talking about her husband, who happens to make such a bad investment that the family loses millions.  I mean, what about this discretion, why is the stealing the big deal?
• Rachel - she was raped, and no one knows.  She hides her feelings and eats them away.  This comes in handy, as it is disguised in her baking business.  But everything is fixed when she meets the perfect mate, Darcy.  Right?
• Heather - What does she see in the older man?  He's double her age with children her age!  Could it be money?  I think it's more the daddy issues.  I mean her father was the classic abuser, could her husband be too?

That's the real question.  Was Stephen, the father and husband, the abuser?  There were many clues, but ultimately, I am not fully convinced.  However, someone was, right?  Given the outcome.