Daughter by Kate McLaughlin ~ My Review

Hello, my friends! I'm posting my review of Daughter by Kate McLaughlin. I was lucky enough to get an e-ARC of the book for my honest review. 

Daughter

A Novel

by Kate McLaughlin

Publication Date: March 8th, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books

Pages: 336

Received: From the publisher via Netgalley.

Rating: 4 stars

Book Description 

Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does. 

When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby. 

Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter. 

Kate McLaughlin’s Daughter is a novel about trying right deadly choices that were never yours to begin with.

 

My Review

In Daughter: A Novel, Scarlet Murphy, aka Brittany Lake, finds out she’s the daughter of the infamous serial killer Jeff Lake.

Fifteen years earlier, Scarlet’s mom divorced Lake, changed her name, and disappeared with her two-year-old daughter. Now Jeff Lake is dying in a prison hospital, and he says he is willing to give up the names and locations of his other victims, but only to his daughter.

That would be so crazy to find out that you are the daughter of a serial killer - and not in a good way!

When I first heard about Daughter, I was intrigued and knew I had to read it! It was excellent and kept me engaged. Although, it did go in a different direction than I thought it would. The romance in the story surprised me (because something like this would turn your life upside down), but I was glad Scarlet had someone to talk to who liked her for who she was and not because of her father.

Scarlet was courageous for facing Jeff Lake. She really wanted to help the other families, and I like the creative ways she was going about that and trying to take the spotlight off Lake and onto the forgotten victims. 

It is a YA novel, so not overly graphic, but there is drinking, drug use, sex, and foul language.

FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the story from the publisher for my honest review.

Buy: Amazon (paid link)

Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

I am finding that I'm really getting into mysteries and thrillers! What about you?

Monthly Wrap-Up - August 2020

 Hello, my friends! Well, it's been a month since I posted a "What Are You Reading?" post, and I joked the last time that I might as well post a "Monthly Wrap-Up" instead. Haha, so that's what I'm doing! I was in a gigantic reading slump all summer. I think it might be over - fingers crossed! 

Here's what I read in August:

Serious Moonlight* by Jenn Bennett - I finally finished this after starting back in February. I can't remember why I set it aside then, but I did pick it back up. It was okay, but it just never grabbed me. Maybe I still wasn't in the mood for it. 

Vassa in the Night* by Sarah Porter - I received this book a couple of years ago in a YA book subscription box and decided to give it a try.  This story is so bizarre and dark. Like Alice going down the rabbit hole, Vassa gets caught in an odd and dangerous convenience store. The story kept drawing me in; I had to find out what happens to Vassa and her magical doll! Although strange, I really enjoyed it! 

The Woman in the Window* by A.J. Finn - I loved this suspense/thriller! Anna Fox is stuck in her house; she's an agoraphobic who has panic attacks every time she steps out of her home. That in itself is interesting, add in that she sees something she shouldn't, and it's gripping! I liked how you weren't sure what was real and what was Anna's imagination. Did she really see what she thought she did? Also, I loved all the Hitchcock and old movie references! 

Eleven* by Patricia Reilly Giff - This is a great middle-grade mystery about a boy who finds a newspaper clipping of a missing boy in the attic, and it's him! Now he has to figure out who he is and who are the people he's living with. 

Audiobooks

The Scarlet Letter* by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I'm glad I listened to this one. It's was a little too wordy for me, I would have never gotten through it otherwise! It's an interesting look into the Puritan life and early America - also how guilt can slowly eat at you.

The Aussie Next Door* by Stefani London - This was a fun romantic comedy to listen to! The narrator, Summer Morton (no relation, lol), did a fantastic job with the character voices!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* by J.K Rowling - Listening to this on a long drive was wonderful! It's my favorite of the Harry Potter books. 

*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

I took a long road trip to Montana to visit a friend. It was so nice to get away and see another part of the country! We had planned to go hiking in Glacier Park and had reservations at a hotel there, but our plans where canceled due to COVID. Still, we had a good time hanging out at her house. We did a short hike and some kayaking. It was so beautiful! 

 

So, what was your August like? Did you get to venture out? As always, let me know what you are reading! It's a great way to find new books! Thanks! I hope you all are doing well! 

What Are You Reading? ~ July 29, 2020

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Hello, friends! It's been a month since I posted my What Are You Reading? post! I might as well just start posting a Monthly Wrap-Up! I haven't been reading enough to talk about it until this week.  Hopefully, my reading slump has been broken! So, here we go...

What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Current Read

I'm currently reading Serious Moonlight* by Jenn Bennett. Yes, I started this a few months ago and set it aside. I've picked it back up, and I think I'll stick with it! :) 

Recently Finished

I recently finished Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee* by Jeff Zentner. I loved it! I laughed out loud a few times, and it also had me crying at the end. I love a story that grabs my emotions. - 5 stars.

I listened to Animal Farm* by George Orwell while driving home from Arizona. It was terrific and something to think about during the current climate of our nation.  - 5 stars.

I also listened to The Cuckoo's Cry by Caroline Overington. Written during this COVID pandemic, it's a mystery about a girl who shows up at a man's house claiming to be his granddaughter from the son he gave up. Having nowhere to go, she shelters in place with Don, her grandfather. Don's daughter is not so sure about this girl's story and starts investigating. It was good! - 4 stars.

Finally, I finished One Perfect Summer* by Brenda Novak. This story never grabbed me. It's an interesting premise, though. Three ladies find out they are half-sisters after doing a DNA test. It's a mystery how they are related as they all come from different backgrounds. One is raised by both parents (at least she thinks they are her parents), one by her single mom, and one was found abandon in Florida at the age of two and was raised in the foster system. - 3 stars.

What's Next?

That I'm not sure of! :)

*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

So, tell me, what are you reading?! 

What Unbreakable Looks Like Blog Tour ~ My Review

Hello, my friends! Today as part of the What Unbreakable Looks Like Blog Tour, I have my review for you to read! 

My Review

What Unbreakable Looks Like is a raw, heartbreaking, and hopeful story. It shows what a person can go through and come out on the other side, maybe not whole, but strong and courageous.

The story begins the night Lex and Ivy are rescued from the motel where they were sold for sex. At the hospital, Ivy runs away, back to her pimp. Lex stays, and her long road to recovery begins. It’s not easy, and there are many times she wants to go back. You may ask why someone would want to go back to a life of abuse. Often the girls are brainwashed by their pimps, and many are addicted to drugs. 

Lex is lucky. She has a fantastic support system and the will to go on. She doesn’t always make the right decisions, but I think that’s what makes the story feel so real.

I would give What Unbreakable Looks Like a mature rating for language and some sexual scenes. Although not detailed, it was enough to make me uncomfortable.

FTC Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the story from the publisher for my honest review.

What Unbreakable Looks Like

by Kate McLaughlin

Expected Publication Date: June 23, 2020

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 336

Received: I received an e-copy from the publisher for my honest review. 

Rating: 4 stars

Book Description: 

Lex was taken–trafficked–and now she’s Poppy. Kept in a hotel with other girls, her old life is a distant memory. But when the girls are rescued, she doesn’t quite know how to be Lex again.

After she moves in with her aunt and uncle, for the first time in a long time, she knows what it is to feel truly safe. Except, she doesn’t trust it. Doesn't trust her new home. Doesn’t trust her new friend. Doesn’t trust her new life. Instead she trusts what she shouldn’t because that's what feels right. She doesn’t deserve good things.

But when she is sexually assaulted by her so-called boyfriend and his friends, Lex is forced to reckon with what happened to her and that just because she is used to it, doesn’t mean it is okay. She’s thrust into the limelight and realizes she has the power to help others. But first she’ll have to confront the monsters of her past with the help of her family, friends, and a new love.

Kate McLaughlin’s What Unbreakable Looks Like is a gritty, ultimately hopeful novel about human trafficking through the lens of a girl who has escaped the life and learned to trust, not only others, but in herself.

 

Buy: *Amazon (paid link) • Publisher's Buy Links

Add to Goodreads

*FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!

About the Author

KATE McLAUGHLIN likes people, so much so that she spends her days making up her own. She likes writing about characters who are bent, but not broken - people who find their internal strength through friends, strife and sometimes humor. When she's not writing, she likes studying people, both real and fictional. She also likes playing board games with friends, talking and discovering new music. A proud Nova Scotian, she'll gladly tell you all about the highest tides in the world, the magical creation known as a donair, and people who have sofas in their kitchens. Currently, she lives in Connecticut with her husband and four cats. She's the author of What Unbreakable Looks Like.

Connect with Kate McLaughlin on Twitter.

Early Praise:

"With unflinching honesty, What Unbreakable Looks Like exposes the injuries and scars we wear on our skins or in our souls. Hidden damage is tragically common, but helpful others who dared embrace hope invite Alexa to step onto the healing path. This novel may offer a springboard for a reader's own healing or foster empathy for life's walking wounded." - Liz Coley, author of international bestseller Pretty Girl-13

"Raw, unflinching, and authentic, Kate McLaughlin's thoughtful What Unbreakable Looks Like carefully crafts a story exposing the vulnerability of underage trafficked girls and what it takes to begin the process of healing from sexual trauma." - Christa Desir, author, advocate, and founding member of The Voices and Faces Project

“This is a powerful book about a sobering topic that I found myself thinking about for days after I completed it. It is wonderfully poignant, painfully real, and even laugh out loud funny at times. Not everyone can truly wrap their minds around the trauma these victims endure and yet somehow, despite all of it, are still just regular kids. But Kate McLaughlin gets it. ‘Lex’ is truly what unbreakable looks like and you’ll fall in love with her spirit.” - Tanya Compagnone, Trooper First Class



“Sex trafficking continues to seep into all our communities. In this novel, Kate McLaughlin brings to life the trauma that transpires in youth who forced into the life of sex trafficking. Her novel is a reminder that each of us can make a difference in someone’s life.” - Dina R. St. George, MSW, Juvenile Re-Entry Unit OCPD

Many thanks to Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read What Unbreakable Looks Like!

Any thoughts, my friends? I would love to hear from you! 

What Are You Reading? ~ June 3, 2020

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

I hope you are well and keeping safe! Oh, I have been on a reading slump lately! I finally finished a book. Lol! So, here's what I've been reading for the last couple of weeks.

Current Read

I'm currently still reading What's Left Of My World* by C.A. Rudolph. I'm almost finished! Yay! It's a good story, but I'm not sure if I was really in the mood to read a post-apocalyptic story at the moment. With all the unrest in the country.

 

Recently Finished

I finished reading Secondborn (Bk 1)* by Amy A. Bartol. This is the first of three books in the Secondborn Series. It was very good. Lots of world-building and it leaves off unfinished so you'll need to read the whole series. Secondborns are born to serve firstborns and to replace them if they die. They are second class citizens and have no rights. Of course, a rebellion is coming! :) ~ 4 stars.

What next?

I'm going to start The Jane Austen Society* by Natalie Jenner. I'm so looking forward to this! Hopefully, it will get me out of this slump! 

Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

So, tell me, what are you reading? 

What Are You Reading? ~ May 20, 2020

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Happy Wednesday, friends! My reading has slowed way down. My daughter asked me to show her how to crochet - I was thrilled!! Anyway, we've been staying up late crocheting and rewatching Parks and Rec episodes! So fun! Which means since I mostly read at night, I've not been reading as much. I'm not complaining, though! I love spending time with her! 

What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

I didn't post last week, so this is from the previous two weeks.

Current Read

I'm still reading What's Left Of My World* by C.A. Rudolph. It's pretty good! The story starts about a year after an EMP episode, which is different from most of the stories I've read. I'm enjoying it!






Recently Finished

I finished reading What Unbreakable Looks Like* by Kate McLaughlin. It's a story about a girl, Lex (or Poppy, the name her pimp gave her), who was rescued from sex traffickers. The story begins the night of her rescue. The pull to go back to her pimp and that life, as horrible as it is, is so interesting! It seems like a realistic look at what Lex had to go through to recover from that situation and how she was seduced into that life. I was rooting for Lex the whole time! ~ 4 stars  (my review show go up on June 18 for the book's blog tour)



What's next?

I still want to read Only a Breath Apart* by Katie McGarry. 

  







*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 




So, tell me, what are you reading? I hope you are all doing well!  

What Are You Reading? ~ May 6, 2020

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Hello, my friends! I skipped last week, but I'm back. I've been sewing and crocheting more lately. :) I've really enjoyed it! I've been watching a bunch of videos and online classes to brush up on some techniques I've forgotten (I used to sew all the time!). So, my reading has slowed down a bit. 

Current Read

I started reading What's Left of My World: A Story of a Family's Survival* by C.A. Rudolph. I'm not very far into it, so nothing to report.







Recently Finished

I finished reading Taken* by Mary Anne Mushatt. I will have my review up on Monday as part of the Taken Blog Tour. I hope you can stop by!

I also finished Attachments* by Rainbow Rowell. The emails between Beth and Jennifer were fun to read and had me laughing quite a few times. The middle of the story slowed down a little, but it picked up and had a great ending! I love Rowell's writing! I would highly recommend any of her books. 4 stars





What's next?

I'm probably going to read Only a Breath Apart* by Katie McGarry. I've read some of her other books and love them! I'm looking forward to this one.  







*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 



So, tell me, what are you reading? I hope you are all doing well!  

What Are You Reading? ~ Mar. 18th, 2020

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finish reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Hello, my friends! Wow! Crazy times right now! I hope you are all well and safe! 
Current Read

I'm currently reading Educated* by Tara Westover. I'm fascinated by Tara's experiences growing up with her survivalist family. It's very interesting, but being non-fiction, it's a slower read for me. 






Recently Finished

I finished reading Aftermath* by Kelley Armstrong. It was pretty good! It was more of a mystery than I thought (didn't read the blurb all the way - the first paragraph grabbed me, and I went with it!). I enjoyed it! ~ 4 stars.






What's next?

Depends on how I feel. I just got Live, Love, Longbourn (The Bennet Sisters, Bk 1)* by Jennifer Becton. It looks really cute! I might read that. :) 








*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

So, tell me, what are you reading? I hope you all are well!  

What Are You Reading? ~ Mar. 11, 2020

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Happy Wednesday! I hope you're having a good week. I have to say, I'm not a fan of the time change. Lol!

Current Read

I'm currently reading Aftermath* by Kelley Armstrong. I'm enjoying this mystery/thriller about a girl, Skye, who has to return to the town where her brother was killed in a school shooting three years earlier. He was one of the shooters. Being back is opening old wounds, and new information is being uncovered about that day...

I'm looking forward to finding out what's going to happen next! 



Recently Finished

I recently finished reading Tweet Cute* by Emma Lord. It was a fun read! And makes you want to eat grilled cheese sandwiches and crazy fun desserts! 







What's next? 

Maybe Serious Moonlight* by Jenn Bennett. It's one from my Book Outlet haul!








*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!




How about you? What have you been reading? Let me know in the comments! Thanks!

What Are You Reading? ~ Mar. 4, 2020

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What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I hope you had a great week! I took a quick road trip over the weekend and got an audiobook in.


Current Read

I'm currently reading Tweet Cute* by Emma Lord. At this point, I'm not very far into it. It seems cute, and I can definitely see a "You've Got Mail" vibe going on. It should be a fun story!







Recently Finished

I recently finished Daisy Jones & the Six* by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the ending, but most of the book was just okay. I didn't like that it was written like an interview. ~ 3.5 stars

I also listened to Fitzwilliam Darcy, Traitor: A Pride and Prejudice Variation* by Jennifer Joy. It was really good! I enjoyed the adventure Darcy and Elizabeth had while trying to find proof of Darcy's innocents. ~ 4 stars.







What's next? 

I'm not sure! I just got a bunch of books from Book Outlet, so probably one of them. :) 

*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!



How about you? What have you been reading? Let me know in the comments! Thanks!