READING: Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publication date: January 24 2017

Published by: Harper Collins

Genre: NA, Contemporary, Dark, Abuse, Mystery, Suspense 

Rating: 

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: A white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it? She wouldn’t say.

Mary survived six years in baby jail before being dumped in a group home. The house isn’t really “home”—no place where you fear for your life can be considered a home. Home is Ted, who she meets on assignment at a nursing home.

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary must find the voice to fight her past. And her fate lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But who really knows the real Mary?

Definitely NOT the best time to be reading a book like this!

Don't get me wrong, Allegedly was well written with an intriguing story - all in all, surprisingly good for a debut novel, but it was such a bummeeeeeer of a book. With all that is happening right now in the world, and even though the book was addictive, I didn't want to pick it up because I knew it would depress the hell out of me.

Also, I didn't really care for any of the characters enough to want to see what happens to them. Mary is a shell of a girl with myriads of mental and psychological issues which she only immediately identifies in others but never in herself. She is a bit too judgy for my taste, given her circumstances and how easy she forgives and justifies disgusting and wretched people in her life.
Between her and the ending (last 3 page-very unnecessary-reveal), I would only recommend this book to those that are into super disturbing, unsettling, everything-is-garbage-no-hope-for-the-human-race kind of reads. 
I personally don't mind them under normal circumstances, but these are very abnormal times we live in and this book was not for me at this point in time. I will still give it 3 stars though for the writing.

READING: Behind Closed Doors by B.A.Paris

Publication date: August 9 2016

Published by: St. Martin's Press

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Contemporary

Rating: 

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You might not want to like them, but you do.

You’d like to get to know Grace better.
But it’s difficult, because you realise Jack and Grace are never apart.

Some might call this true love. Others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows.

Sometimes, the perfect marriage is the perfect lie.

Easily 4,5/5 and I could definitely consider 5/5, it was that good.

I really liked Paris's writing-perfect for the genre; no-nonsense, not flashy. Just matter of fact but still managed to make you care enough about the characters. 
I liked Grace. Many think her weak but I didn't see it that way. She often blamed herself for not seeing Jack's "issues" (even though how could she?), thus taking responsibility, all the while not losing hope and trying to save hers and her sister's lives.
I would have liked Jack to be more of an understated evil guy and not an outright psychopath, but that's just me. I think it would have given the book that a little extra something to make it a solid 5/5.
Overall, I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre. It can be read in one sitting.

Piece of advice: don't leave the last chapters for tomorrow or later in the day. Read the end in one go, otherwise you will feel disconnected from the story when tension peaks.