Hello everyone. I hope your day is going well.
Have you ladies been to a bridal shower? If you are male and never had to attend one of these societal necessities, count yourself as lucky. For those of you in a country that doesn't have this traditional gathering, let me explain. A bridal shower is a party, usually of all women, to shower the bride to be with gifts and good wishes. Usually, this celebration is accompanied with food, something dainty like tea sandwiches and punch. Nope, not hot wings and beer, that is what the men have while they are waiting for the women to complete their gathering. The first shower I ever attended was for my cousin. I was shocked, here were twenty women so enthralled with a gift of a frying pan she just opened. You would have thought that pan could bring world peace. After a few years, it was my turn. I had four bridal showers. I didn't live in my hometown, so had friends in both places and had 2 sets of ex-coworkers and current coworkers, then my fabulous Aunts were so kind to throw a beautiful party too. Keep in mind this was the place I was shocked over the cookware euphoria. Now I got it, I was oohing and aahhhing. I had housekeeping to set up and all these gifts were helping greatly. I still have many of them and can tell you who gave me what. Seriously, people were so very generous. By the time my sister got married, things had changed. She still got gifts, but instead of tea sandwiches, she was showered with attention from a male stripper. I missed that one. Probably for the best.
I recently read The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten. This is my second book by this author. I read and enjoyed The Lost Village as well. In this novel, we are following a group of women as they go to a new, not yet opened, hotel on a private island for a bachelorette getaway/party. The island is beautiful and the hotel stunning. There is a dark secret, however. The island was the site of the disappearance of four young women several years earlier. As odd things start happening at the current gathering, similarities to the happenings of the past become apparent.
This story starts quickly, leaving the reader anxious for the wild ride yet to come. It slows slightly as the background is told and the getaway trip progresses, showing the relationship between the members of the bridal party. Once the characters are known and the basis for the story set, it takes off like a world class roller coaster. Told in traditional thriller style, it has the reader flipping pages while almost hiding their eyes as their breath quickens. It was a blast to experience a peek around the corner, nail biting story. So much fun.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
