Review: Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh

 

Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh

Publication Date: January 27th 2027 by Berkley 

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Tavish and Diya Prasad fall hard and fast, eloping in Las Vegas before he follows her home to New Zealand to start their new life together. But their honeymoon bliss shatters when a fire destroys the Prasad family home and leaves Diya in critical condition. Almost immediately, Tavish becomes the prime suspect, especially once police uncover his unsettling connection to three women who died under suspicious circumstances. Is he a devoted husband caught in a terrible coincidence, or is there something far darker in his past?

 

I adore Nalini Singh’s Psy‑Changeling series, and her standalone thrillers have been just as compelling for me. Such a Perfect Family is an engrossing mystery, though I found the flashbacks to Diya’s past a bit drawn out, slowing the momentum. I was far more captivated by the threads involving the three women linked to Tavish and the question of whether he was responsible. I genuinely couldn’t predict the truth behind the present‑day crimes, but Singh pulls everything together in a satisfying way by the end.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

A man with a deadly past marries into the perfect, respectable family in this riveting thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh . . .

A woman buried.
A woman broken.
A woman crashed.
A woman burned.
And the man who knew them all.

Love at first sight, a whirlwind Vegas wedding, a fairy-tale romance.
For seventy-nine days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world—until his new life turns to ash, his wealthy in-laws’ house going up in a fiery explosion. His badly injured wife lies in a coma, her family all but annihilated.

Tavish thought he left the sins of his Los Angeles life behind, but it’s not so easy to leave behind an investigation into the deaths of several high-profile women—all of whom he professed to love. Tragedy and death follow him no matter where he goes . . . but this time, he knows he’s innocent.

Desperately trying to clear his name as the authorities zero in, he begins his own investigation into the fire—and learns that his wife’s picture-perfect family may have been nothing but a meticulously constructed mirage. The truth is much darker than anything Tavish could’ve imagined . . .

Review: Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

 

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Publication Date: January 27th 2025 by Poisoned Pen Press & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 7hrs 40min

Narrator: Julia Whelan, January LaVoy, Scott Brick

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Debbie’s quiet, suburban life is unraveling. She’s just been fired from her job as an advice columnist, her husband is keeping secrets, and her daughters have some issues of their own.

 

Debbie took things in her own hands, and her actions were definitely in the gray (maybe more than that, haha!), but any fan of justice being served will love this story and cheer her on!

 

This was my first read by Freida McFadden and the hype is real! I’m not elaborating on the plot because of spoilers, but boy did McFadden keep me guessing and riveted by the story! My husband and I listened in one go on a long road and both of us had a few “OMG” moments! Darkly humorous and absolute fun!

 

The audio was perfection! Julia Whelan, January LaVoy and Scott Brick are three favorite audio narrators and so the story was even more phenomenal with their performances!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Sometimes, enough is enough…

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

From #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a biting, subversive thriller about what happens when women finally choose to take justice into their own hands – with killer results.

Sunday Post #325

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Happy Sunday! 

We're on our way home from Southern California. It was a flurry of activity. We drove down to Irvine for a work dinner and the next day traveled to my son and DIL's house to spend time with them and the grandkids. Two boys, ages three and one! Busy with a lot of energy! We cooked a family dinner, my dad and his wife, my two sisters and my sister's husband all came. We had a great time catching up! 

We stopped at my husband's parents home on our way back home and had breakfast with them. They live in a small town outside of Southern California and have a peaceful backyard with lots of oak trees, birdfeeders and birdbaths. 

We're driving back home. Hopefully we won't run into the pervasive fog that's been plaguing Central California, causing a bunch of accidents.

My in-laws back yard

Starla sleeping on my kitchen windowsill.

1000 Puzzle Completed: Vintage Library by Galison

Read:

Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh-3.5 Stars

Photograph by Brian Freeman-4 Stars

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden-4.5 Stars

My first read by Freida McFadden and now I get the hype! Very twisty and fun!

Received:

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

Thank you to Berkley, Penguin Random House Audio, Dreamscape Media and Macmillan Audio!

How was your week?

Review: Make It Out Alive By Allison Brennan

 

Make It Out Alive (Quinn & Costa #7) by Allison Brennan

Publication Date: January 27th 2025 by Hanover Square Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 400

Audiobook Length: 11hrs 57min

Narrator: Suzanne T. Fortin

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Libro.fm | Audible

My Thoughts:

Detective Kara Quinn and FBI Agent Matt Costa go undercover as newlyweds to catch a killer targeting couples at a Florida resort. When they manage to arrest their suspect mid‑abduction, the team thinks the case is wrapped. But after deciding to stay the weekend and finally take a breath, Kara and Matt vanish. Suddenly, the question becomes unavoidable: Did they catch the right man?

 

As the team scrambles to retrace Kara and Matt’s steps, they’re forced to confront a chilling possibility, someone else may be involved. Meanwhile, Kara and Matt wake to find themselves trapped in a deadly, escape‑room‑like setup where every choice could be their last.

 

I devoured Make It Out Alive in a single day. The blend of crime‑procedural investigation and high‑stakes survival kept me glued to the story, especially as the clock ticked down for Kara and Matt. Their chapters are action-packed as they use their wits to escape, while the team’s investigation unfolds with smart, methodical tension.

 

I’ve followed this series from the beginning and love how consistently gripping it is, but you can jump in here without missing a beat. Still, I wholeheartedly recommend the entire series.

 

I alternated between reading and listening to Make It Out Alive, and both formats were excellent. The audiobook, performed by Suzanne T. Fortin, was especially enjoyable. She delivers distinct, believable voices for every character, male and female alike.

5 Stars

Book Description:

Allison Brennan returns to her bestselling series with an edge-of-your-seat thriller that thrusts Quinn and Costa into the crosshairs of a sadistic serial killer.

Three newlywed couples have disappeared from an exclusive resort in Florida, only to turn up dead soon after. With the location and the similarities between the female victims as their only leads, it’s up to the FBI Mobile Response Team to catch a serial killer before anyone else ends up dead. And they have the perfect bait—Detective Kara Quinn, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the targeted women.

Undercover as newlyweds pretending to enjoy their honeymoon, Kara and FBI Agent Matt Costa set a flawless trap. When their plan works and they arrest the predator, Matt sends the rest of the team home so he and Kara can have the weekend for some much-needed R&R. But on Monday morning, the couple doesn’t show up to work, and the MRT learns they never checked out of their hotel.

As their team tries to find them, Matt and Kara learn the truth—the killer wasn’t acting alone. He had a partner who succeeded where he failed. Kidnapped and forced into a twisted escape room, they need to find a way out, because if they don’t escape, they’ll die.

Sunday Post #324

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

I hope everyone is warm and safe with all the storms. Seems like reading the news each day brings a fresh new horror. I like Kimberly's @Caffeinated reviewer's weekly reminder to spread kindness where you can! 

I had a nice week. My husband was off this past Monday so we went hiking on a trail about 15 minutes away and then went to lunch. The weather was gorgeous! 

Hike in Nevada City, CA

Peanut and Starla co-existing

1000 Piece Puzzle Completed: Sherlock Holmes by Gibson Games

Read:

Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie-4 Stars

Warping Minds and Other Misdemeanors by Annette Marie and Rob Jacobsen-3 Stars

The Gate of the Feral Gods (Dungeon Crawler Carl #4) by Matt Dinniman-5 Stars

Make it Out Alive (Quinn & Costa #7) by Allison Brennan-5 Stars

I am loving The Dungeon Crawler Carl series! I would've blown through all the books published already but I've had to pause for read a-long and review books! Make it Out Alive was so good! I listened to it in one day! 

Received: 

Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh

Last One Out by Jane Harper

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer

You Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews

The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall

Thank you to Berkley and Macmillan Audio!

Instagram:

I've been posting a Puzzle & Audiobook feature on Instagram.

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A post shared by Rachel (@wavesoffiction)

How was your week?

Favorites of 2025: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance & Women's Fiction

 This is the last of my favorites list from 2025. I'm getting this list out later than I planned but at least it's before February has rolled around!

Favorites of 2025: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance & Women's Fiction:

See How They Hide by Allison Brennan

Release date: 1/7/25

Knife in the Back by Karen Rose

Release date: 8/12/25

Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell

Release date: 7/15/25

The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak

Release date: 6/3/25

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White

Release date: 7/22/25

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

Release date: 10/7/25

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

Release date: 6/3/25

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Release date: 5/20/25

Swept Away by Beth O' Leary

Release date: 4/1/25

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Release date: 4/22/25

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

Release date: 2/11/25

Isabella's Not Dead by Beth Morrey

Release date: 8/25/25

The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews

Release date: 11/25/25

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

Release date: 5/20/25

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

Release date: 1/21/25

Did any of these make your list?

Audiobook Review: My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

 

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

Publication Date: January 20th 2026 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 320

Audio Book Length: 8hrs 58min

Narrator: Bel Powley, Henry Rowley, Richard Armitage

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Wow, what a twisty story! Eden Fox’s goes for a run and upon returning to her house finds her key won’t unlock the door and the woman answering claims to be her. On top of that her husband claims he doesn’t recognize her. No one believes her. I was trying to figure out what the heck was going on! Is she delusional? Or was there something more nefarious going on?

 

Then we have Birdie, with her POV six months earlier, a woman sort of isolated with no friends except her sweet dog Sunday. She’s just received a devasting diagnosis and found out she’s inherited Spy Glass Manor in Hope Falls from a grandmother she didn’t know she had. Carter, the police detective at Hope Falls figures in as well.

 

How do these characters all connect? There were some shenanigans for sure!

 

I rooted for Birdie as she tried to connect the dots.

 

My Husband’s Wife was a deliciously twisty mystery, riveting from the start! This is a story where it’s best to know as little as possible. Just dive in, buckle your seat belt and go along for the crazy ride! That last twist definitely got me! I’d love another book with these characters!

 

I listened to the audio version with a full cast narrating with sound effects which made for an immersive experience! I absolutely loved it!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity, and revenge.

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person's date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Husband’s Wife is a tangled web of deception, obsession, and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.