Although on here I can’t show 3 & 1/2 stars, that is what I’ve given this book. Lori’s writing kept me coming back. The story was ok but the reason I kept coming back to it was the writing. It pulled me in and kept me interested.

The ending was the weakest part for me.

I enjoyed the alternate history of Marilyn Monroe’s life.

Will definitely try more of Lori’s work!

QUOTE: “That was the first time in my life I looked at my mama and saw the rest of who she was. Though, to be fair, that was my wrongdoing. She’d always been a strong person, determined, ambitious. It just hadn’t looked like I thought it would.”

I really enjoyed Lake county. It was interesting to delve into a world where Marilyn Monroe’s life was different. The end was exactly what I needed and the book over all was very bittersweet

This book was so interesting concept wise.
Lake County is set in the 1950’s and actually uses Marilyn Monroe as a character. This story is obviously fiction, but it was fun to have her as part of the twisted tale that is this book.
There are many layers and elements here, but I didn’t find it confusing and I liked the POVs.
Addie loves her Aunt Jean (aka Marilyn Monroe) and longs to be a starlet just like her. When Aunt Jean decides to take Addie to Hollywood for her birthday, Addie decides she is never going to return to the quaint Florida town she is from. But basically everything blows up, and nothing happens like she thinks it will.
I enjoyed this book, but it wasn’t amazing. 3 solid stars.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

4.25 Stars

Mid-twentieth century mobsters and an international clamor for all things Marilyn Monroe dominate this relatively suspenseful offering by award-winning author, Lori Roy.

Addie Anne Buckley wants nothing more than to leave her trite small-town life behind and, following in her Aunt Jean/Marilyn’s footsteps, embrace the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown. But when a bizarre chain of events derails her plan and threatens the existence of everything she holds dear, Addie begins to question her aspirations, as well as the fanatical admiration she’s always had for her Aunt Jean.

Wonderfully descriptive, adequately paced, with colorful characters to boot, LAKE COUNTY is certain to not only entertain suspense lovers but leave Marilyn Monroe fans with a wistful scenario regarding her fate.

I really enjoyed Lake county. It was interesting to delve into a world where Marilyn Monroe’s life was different. The end was exactly what I needed and the book over all was very bittersweet

"Lake County", is a fascinating historical fiction set in the 1950s. The story centers on Truitt, a teenager running an illegal gambling game to support his family after his father's murder. His love interest, Addie Anne, dreams of Hollywood stardom and is connected to Aunt Jean, who is revealed to be Marilyn Monroe.

The plot is gripping, filled with unexpected twists, violence, and a mafia connection. Addie’s longing for a glamorous life contrasts with Truitt’s harsh realities. Roy's writing brilliantly captures the era, blending historical figures with fictional settings.

Marilyn Monroe's inclusion adds an intriguing twist, though not entirely necessary. Seibert’s character is over-the-top but adds flair to the story. Overall, "Lake County" is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, mob thrillers, and Hollywood glamour. It's a compelling and well-written novel that I highly recommend.

This book was a fun, entertaining, and suspenseful novel. It had interesting characters and a great setting. I liked the twists within the book they gave it a great ending.

3.5 Stars rounding down.

The first few pages strongly had an elementary feeling. I kept reading because I after putting in some research to the author’s accolades and decided they weren’t for nothing, right? On I went. Following the slow start, the story progressed - enough to not toss the book entirely, but a slow read due to the fact it did not make me feel invested in the plot. There were strong and good-hearted characters that were easily relatable. The last act of the book felt rushed. I think the story would have been more enjoyable if it was more consistent tempo start to finish.

Lake County by Lori Roy was a wonderfully written suspense novel.
I enjoyed reading this story. It was exciting from the very first page. So many twists & turns.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is my first time reading something by @lori_roy_author , and I am glad I decided to read Lake County. It was recommended to me by my Mother-In-Law as an interesting summer read. It is a historical fiction with Marilyn Monroe seemingly as it’s muse, and the Tampa mafia (was that a thing?) another portion of the narrative. An interesting tidbit for me is that it is set in Lake County, Florida, which is a nearby town that I often frequent. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, mob thrillers, and fiction related to Marilyn Monroe.
I felt like the story was interesting enough to stand on its own without the addition of Marilyn as a character, and probably would have enjoyed it just as much if she were not included. Regardless, her inclusion was an interesting abstraction of what her life could have looked like under a different set of circumstances, settings, and people in her life. I did find Seibert’s character to be a little over-the-top and not incredibly believable, but I suppose he served his purpose in a grandiose way. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend others to read if they are interested in historical fiction set in the 1950s.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer Publishing & @lori_roy_author for the pleasure of reading this e-book via @netgalley
All thoughts are entirely my own: instagram.com/bookslug_

I really wanted to love this book! It sounded so good. My best friend is a huge Marilyn fan and it really made me want to read it anymore. Unfortunately, I was bored and did not finish.

Lori Roy follows Florida authors Dennis Lehane and Linda Bond into Ybor City, a Tampa neighborhood know as a hub for the Tampa Mafia (and its delicious food). Set in the 1950s, Lake County is the story of Truitt, a teenager who is running an illegal gambling game in a small town about 40 miles from Ybor. Truitt uses his profits to support his mom and their home after his father was murdered. Truitt is in love with Addie Anne, who has grown up knowing Aunt Jean, aka Marilyn Monroe. The novel focuses on the 1950s crime in and around Tampa. In her notes, Roy indicates the novel is about the "difference between power and strength". Lake County is a must read for Florida fiction fans and readers who enjoy novels with historical figures dropped into fictional settings.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

📚 PUBLICATION MONTH BOOK REVIEW 📚

Lake County By Lori Roy
Publication Date: June 1, 2024
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

Let me just begin this review with a standing ovation for Lori Roy... Her creativity in reimagining Marilyn Monroe - and a different path for her life - within a fictional thriller set in the 1950s in small-town Florida, was nothing short of brilliant! Roy crafted a captivating story that quickly became unputdownable for me -- and I think it will be for you too.

The concept of the book really intrigued me, which is why I started reading. And it didn't take more than a few pages before I was completely hooked. The writing was superb, with a mystical and ethereal quality that made me feel as if I was right there in small-town Hockta, Florida, watching events unfold around me. I was entranced with the town, the people in it, the places they went, and the way their stories were woven together so seamlessly. The chapters were written from the points of view of several characters in the book, and I eagerly turned pages until everyone's stories came together in the book's thrilling conclusion.

This wasn't a 'thriller' in a way that's going to frighten you or get your heart pounding. There's no scary serial killer or vicious murderer waiting around the bend. But there is a tapestry of mysterious intrigue that blends into this fictional story, which evokes a feeling you're reading a riveting thriller of a book. Once I finished it, I didn't feel like I'd just read a "thriller," per se. I did, however, feel like I'd just read a phenomenal novel that I couldn't wait to rave about to anyone and everyone who will listen!

As a lifelong fan of Marilyn, I remain saddened by, and curious about, her untimely and tragic death. Like many people, I often wonder what would have become of her life if she hadn't been so encumbered by the expectations and pressures of Hollywood, and gotten so entangled within the secrets of Camelot. The reimagining of "what could have been" for Marilyn, if only she'd made one different choice, was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I couldn't help but cry at the end of this book, so sad for all the possibilities this world lost with her death on that early August night in 1962. I especially love that this book was published on what would have been Marilyn's 98th birthday. ❤️

This book is easily one of my favorites of 2024 and I can't encourage you enough to pick up a copy and devour it as soon as possible! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for gifting me this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

**Lake County is a Read Now selection on NetGalley until it is archived June 15th. And if you aren't a NetGalley reader, Lake County is available for free as a selection for June's Prime Reads, a perk for Amazon Prime members.**

#LakeCounty #LoriRoy #NetGalley #PrimeReads

I did not enjoy this book. I'm so sorry but it just fell so short for me.
I understand that other's loved it. I thought it was going to be something different and while it was interesting I just had a hard time getting into it. I liked the younger girl, Addie I think was her name. I liked Jean. But there was just something that kept me from really enjoying this one. I didn't finish it. I read almost 60% and haven't picked it back up. If I do and my thoughts change I will come back and redo my review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Lori Roy's latest novel, LAKE COUNTY, is a nostalgic suspense with Gothic vibes set in the 1950s with an intriguing reimaging of the life of the iconic Marilyn Monroe, tying her fate to a dreamy teen whose boyfriend is part of the mob.

About...

Addie Anne Buckley would like to escape her small Florida town and dreams of following in the path of her glamorous aunt Jean—known to the world as Marilyn Monroe. When Aunt Jean plans a trip to Hollywood for Addie’s eighteenth birthday, Addie knows this is her chance!

However, Truitt, Addie's love, will join her in Hollywood. From there, they will travel to New York just in time for Aunt Jean's birthday and the premiere of The Seven Year Itch. She will be her date, walk the red carpet, and smile as flashbulbs snap in her face.

No one, not even Aunt Jean, knew Addie would not be returning. No one except Truitt. She would not miss him for long, as he would join her at the right time.

However, things do not go as planned. Her boyfriend gives her an ultimatum. Now the Tampa mafia is after him in a race against time to save his life and Addies. But he may be too late.

Will Addie make it to California with Aunt Jean?

My thoughts...

LAKE COUNTY is a fun, quirky, entertaining, interesting reimagining (fictional) version of a real-life Hollywood movie star, Marilyn Monroe, and historical figures.

It features a cast of colorful characters and is blended with humor, suspense, mystery, history, intrigue, murder, mafia, mayhem, organized crime, ambition, obsession, family, friendship, secrets, and romance.

It is set in the fictional town of Hockta, which the author placed in Lake County, but the actual location is in Central Florida. As a Florida resident for over twenty years, I enjoy stories past and present set in the state, and I grew up in the 1950s in the South.

Recs...

For fans of Camille Di Maio's The Beautiful Strangers and if you enjoy old Florida, crime thrillers, and Hollywood in the 1950s, this is for you. Grab this one for your summer beach bag!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for review purposes.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: June 1, 2024
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This book was such an unexpected surprise. Between the Marilyn Monroe storyline, teenage love, and Florida mob drama, it was so interesting and unique! Really enjoyable read.

Honestly, the least interesting part of the story is the parts that imagine a different life for Marilyn Monroe, and the most intriguing is the Florida gambling underbelly and fighting 1950s gangsters and those pulled into their web. Dark, rural stories like this are intriguing and this one is nicely atmospheric.

Lake County provided me with a refreshing departure from my normal reads. Set in the 1950s it is voiced from several perspectives, the main one being Addie. She’s approaching her eighteenth birthday and her mother’s long term friend Jean, an actress, is visiting. Jean has promised Addie a trip to Hollywood and the opportunity to walk the red carpet with her. Addie, however, has decided she won’t be returning. That when she reaches Hollywood, she will persuade Jean to let her stay, sure she is destined for stardom in her own right. She also needs to talk to her boyfriend Truitt, to persuade him to join her. Unfortunately, this doesn’t go to plan, leaving Addie upset and Truitt heading to a bar where he drowns his sorrows. Drunk and late returning home, he stops to help a stranded motorist, an innocent action which triggers a nightmare situation that will have a knock on effect involving many innocent people.

This is such a fascinating and absorbing story. The story pulls you in. A young girl’s dreams of escaping her mundane life in Lake County soon turns into something that almost mirrors a dramatic Hollywood movie. There is violence, a Mafia connection and a plot which grips and takes you in directions where you can’t imagine how anyone is going to come out of this unscathed. The writing is brilliant, as are the characters. And Jean? Well she turns out to be Marilyn Monroe. And in this alternative life the writer carves out for her, things might have turned out very different.

A great read and a breath of fresh air.

I would like to thank Thomas and Mercer, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Lake County in exchange for an honest review.

Not what I was expecting.

Addie Anne idolizes her aunt and wants to leave her small town in nowhere Florida to be famous. She wants to live a glamourous life. However she loves her boyfriend, Truitt and is thinking he'll join her. Truitt instead gives her an ultimatum, chose marriage to him and staying in Florida or live her dream. Then he makes a mistake that includes the Tampa mafia and they're both in trouble as well as their families.

It was ok.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.