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Tuesday, November 30, 2021

The Bend in Redwood Road (Missing Pieces #1) - by Danielle Stewart

 

Most days it's manageable. No more than a quiet wondering around the edges of her mind.
 
What has become of the baby she left behind?
 
Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart. Dutiful and anchoring, Leslie poured herself into her other children. Nurturing them through infancy, protecting them as toddlers, guiding them as teens. As her youngest child heads off to college with her suitcases and coordinating dorm room accessories, so goes Leslie’s identity. The chaotic life of a busy working mother threatens to become dangerously quiet. Quiet enough to hear the voices she’s tried to silence for decades.
 
Gwen Fox was adopted by two perfect people. Noel and Millie have always treated her the same as their two biological sons. Her parents love is strong and unwavering, yet a soul-deep ache still lingers. Plagued by an unnamed, hard to explain, longing Gwen could never shake.
 
Riddled with doubt and dragged down by the undertow of unanswered questions, Leslie and Gwen both find their lives suddenly upended. One seeks the truth about the day she was born. The other seeks herself, the woman she was before motherhood. Before she made a choice to leave a piece of her heart lying asleep in the hospital nursery.
 
In this complex journey for answers, blame is abundant. Guilt is thick enough to choke on. Marriages are brought to the brink of disaster. As the ripples of the past vibrate through their lives, Gwen and Leslie realize there is no turning back. What they have put into motion cannot be stopped. The road toward the truth will be littered with casualties.

First published in 2019    Kindle Edition : 306 Pages

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There is a style of writing that seems to be coming more and more common these days - chapters looking at the story from the point of view of 2 characters in the book. I am getting used to it ... it's an interesting style to write to get a complete rounded story out there.

Anyway .... this story is about loss, and discovery. Heartbreak and Love ... this story tells us that everything is not as it seems ... to the outsider and even to those on the inside who think that they know everything they need to know about their family.

I think that the way this story unfolded was well done. We get to see inside Leslie's mind and learn all the heartbreak she had to go through years earlier, to give her children a life that she thought they deserved, with a man who she believed that she loved more than anything. Time and events will change the way we all look at things through our lives, and Leslie does learn this.

Gwen has always known she was adopted and she has been fine with it - up until 2 years ago, when events made her start questioning who her parents were, why they gave her up, where are they now ... and so she does a DNA test that starts a rollercoaste ride for everyone in her life.

There is a twist ... and it's a good one ... 

Do yourself a favor and read this book ... I thoroughly enjoyed it :)

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Friday, November 19, 2021

Traded : Brody and Kara (Cliffside Bay Book 1) - Tess Thompson

 

She can’t afford to be found. His life is on public display. Will her dangerous past destroy their chance for love?

Nurse Kara Boggs lost everything because she stood up for what’s right. After turning state’s evidence against her mobster father, she’s forced to go underground with an assumed name. But taking a job for a handsome celebrity quarterback could shine a very dangerous public spotlight.

After leading his team to a Super Bowl win, Brody Mullen should be on top of the world. But he’s shocked when his quiet seaside homecoming reveals his mother in a cast, and her housekeeper dying from a brain tumor. Frantic to get the best care for the women he adores, he hires a gorgeous nurse… despite her strange request to stay publicly invisible.

As Kara’s attraction to the charming jock grows, she becomes trapped by her own high-stakes secrets and the constant threat of exposure. And Brody’s famously strict “no women” rule means falling hard for the beautiful woman could ruin his career.

Will they be sidelined by their own rules, or will they complete a pass to passion?

Traded: Brody and Kara is the touching first book in the Cliffside Bay small-town romance series. If you like courageous heroines, steadfast heroes, and heartfelt stories of friendship and family, you’ll adore Tess Thompson’s emotional saga.

Print Length : 444 Pages   Publication Date : 15th February 2018

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Imagine having to uproot your life and move across the country, using a new name and a new past and not allowing anyone to get close - you have to constantly be on your guard and be careful who you can trust - no pictures, no past info - nothing.

That is exactly what Kara does - but her new job does open up her heart and the very real possibility that she could be putting herself and Brody and his wonderful family and friends in very real danger.

The story is good - all about second chances ...  I truly do want to read the rest of the stories that are in the series - all the characters are great ... so I definately will buy the rest of these books.

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥

Sisters (Sun Valley Series : Book 1) - Kellie Coates Gilbert

 

 Set in America’s original ski resort, Sun Valley, Idaho—SISTERS offers a thought-provoking look at three women . . . and the choices they make when they realize their lives aren’t exactly what they expected.

Karyn Macadam is starting over after losing her husband to a skiing accident. A chance encounter with a back country pilot might be this young widow’s one shot at a new beginning, but only if she can let go of the past.

Leigh Ann Blackburn is the perfect wife, until her husband grows more distant and she believes the worst. An outrageous plan to save her marriage turns the situation on its head and she soon learns not everything is as it seems.

Joie Abbott, who always finds a way to mess up her life, has done it yet again. This time a bitter betrayal threatens to expose a heartache she desperately wants to keep secret, especially from her family.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears . . . life is always better with your sisters at your side.

Published : 1st March 2017   Print Length : 320 Pages  

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I did find this book was easy to settle down to read ... I enjoyed the sisters being different from each other and also leading different lifestyles ... instead of them being totally in sync with each other in so many ways. They did always know when something was wrong with the an other sister but they did spend a lot of time dealing with their own lives and jobs which I did like.

Book 1 .. I did enjoy it .... the writing of the story felt real, not forced and being able to keep the 3 very different sisters lives and loves felt so true and the romance that started to show through their stories was great.

Anyone that picks this up will find it very enjoyable.

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets .... by Chelsea Ichaso

 

Piper's fall was no accident. Did someone want her dead? It's up to her sister to discover the truth in this shocking new thriller with an unreliable narrator, from the acclaimed author of Little Creeping Things.

Piper Sullivan was in a strange hiking accident last month and has been in a coma ever since. Her older sister, Savannah, can't pretend to be optimistic about it; things look bad. Piper will likely never wake up, and Savannah will never get any answers about what exactly happened.

But then Savannah finds a note in Piper's locker, inviting Piper to a meeting of their school's wilderness club...at the very place and on the very day that she fell. Which means there was a chance that Piper wasn't alone. Someone might've seen something. Worse, someone might've done something. But who would want to hurt the perfect Piper Sullivan...and why?

To discover the truth, Savannah joins the club on their weekend-long camping trip on the same mountain where her sister fell. But she better be careful; everyone in the club is a suspect, and everyone seems to be keeping secrets about that tragic day.

And Savannah? She's been keeping secrets, too...

Thanks NetGalley

Expected Publication Date : April 5th 2022

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Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC .

I have to say this book was fantastic. From the minute that I started reading this book, I found myself sucked in to the world of Savannah and her endless search to get to the truth ... she does not believe that Piper, her sister, tried to kill herself ... but that she was pushed off the cliff, from the moment she starts to look into what actually happened on that day. Having Piper's phone with the mysterious text messages is what starts the trek to find the truth.

Throughout this story, we come across more than 1 lie, betrayals of trust, broken hearts and promises. And one secret after another - each time when Savannah thinks she has found the truth, there is another twist that pushes another person up to be the number 1 suspect.

I feel for Savannah - her parents in their own grief, do not even stop to think about her feelings, partly I guess because they didn't see past Piper and her talents ... to even appreciate Savannah, which as you can imagine didn't help the sisters to have a healthy relationship.

Friendships are tested throughout the book - and only the strong will survive at the end. A lot of what happens with the friends could happen on any day. There is a twist - a good one that I didn't see coming ... it's a really enjoyable book. I think this will be a popular book.

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Rest Falls Away (The Gardella Vampire Hunters : Victoria Book 1) - by Colleen Gleason

 


Beneath the glitter of dazzling nineteenth century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil…
Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal creatures would have long ago taken control of the world.

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous moonlit streets, Victoria’s heart is torn between London’s most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her dark, dangerous duty.

And when she comes face-to-face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make a choice between duty and love. 

Published : September 15th 2014    298 Pages   ISBN 13: 978-1931419567

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This was an enjoyable book to read - no pretty vampires in this book at all ... and once Victoria decides to take the step to become a Vampire Hunter, she relishes it and takes the roll very seriously.

Her cousin Max tries to dissuade her from getting romantically involved with anyone, let alone marrying, as he believes it's too hard to keep the life a secret ... but Victoria decides to take the plunge and marry - beginning a long spiral of events that threaten her life as well as her new husband.

The story does feel a little like it is on repeat - Victoria gets dressed up to take part in all the society events expected of her to then find an excuse to leave early to head off and go vampire hunting. It works for awhile ... but the husband begins to notice and a journey begins that even he can't climb out of.

The story was good .... I enjoyed it, once we moved on from the repetitive story.  I will definately read more of this series - it will be interesting to see where it goes ...

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥

Immortal Memory : Book One .... by Sylvia Frances

 

Simra Reece, owner of Reece Alzheimer's Care Facility, is determined to prolong her grandmother's life at the home and find a cure for the horrendous illness. Nothing will stop her from taking care of her precious grandmother, who is the only family she has left. 
 
But Simra's world comes crashing down when her ex-fiance', Tristan, returns with a deadly obsession on forcing her into marriage. Tristan is a danger to Simra and her grandmother, but he isn't just any normal man. He is dark and powerful. The only chance Simra has of survival is placing her trust in his tall and handsome twin brother, Zach Hanley, who seems to have a hidden, dark past with her grandmother. Together, she and Zach must release their guilt of the past, learn to forgive, and place all their trust in Christ for their protection against the evil forces surrounding them...
 
First Published : December 8th 2014   Read on Kindle 
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I will say that this book was a little confusing in the beginning - getting my head around twin angels - one good, one bad ... both obsessed with Simra and not realising that her and her grandmother Lucinda are the only ones that can see them ...
 
There is intrigue, fantasy, inspirational moments, and moments of despair .... the story ended up with a twist at the end that brought all the romance together BUT I did feel that the book itself could have been better if we did not have to be content reading about Simra's fears all the way through the book. We knew them, so didn't need the constant reminder.
 
I did enjoy this ... but I imagined darkness all through the read of the book. I do not know if that was the intent of the author, but even the odd description of a pretty scene did not help me move on from the dark feel this book gave me.
 
RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ 

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Saturday, October 30, 2021

INKITT

 INKITT

 Inkitt is the world's first reader-powered book publisher. They have developed an algorithm that predicts bestsellers by analyzing reading behaviour. At Inkitt, they believe that every author should have an equal chance to succeed. That’s why they’re building the fairest and most objective publishing house in the world by finding hidden talents and turning them into globally successful authors. They're a team of 30 hard-working, extremely talented, and highly dedicated entrepreneurs and have raised $5m to level up and get closer to their goal: to help debut authors dominate the NY Times Best Seller list.
 
You can also find them on Instagram here
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The Hush .... by Sara Foster

 


Lainey's friend Ellis is missing. And she's not the only one.

In the six months since the first case of a terrifying new epidemic - when a healthy baby wouldn't take a breath at birth - the country has been thrown into turmoil. The government has passed sweeping new laws to monitor all citizens. And several young pregnant women have vanished without trace.

As a midwife, Lainey's mum Emma is determined to be there for those who need her. But when seventeen-year-old Lainey finds herself in trouble, this dangerous new world becomes very real. The one person who might help is Emma's estranged mother, but reaching out to her will put them all in jeopardy ...

The Hush is a new breed of near-future thriller, an unflinching look at a society close to tipping point and a story for our times, highlighting the power of female friendship through a dynamic group of women determined to triumph against the odds.

Publication Date : 27th October 2021   320 Pages  Kindle 4153kb

Thanks NetGalley

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Hmmm interesting story - considering the times we are living through right now.

Lots of thoughts come to mind when reading this book - about tracking, control, women's rights, conspiracy and more.

The book moves well ... and when reading this, you tend to ask yourself questions, and feel all the right emotions, as well as wanting to ensure that something like this never happens. Government Control is something that people are standing up against all over the world and at times this book reminds me that we need to be more proactive and not allow tracking etc to become the norm in our lives.

Being written from the view of mother and daughter really worked in this book. I think at times both of them struggled pretending that everything was normal, when in fact everything was not normal, not in their control ... as they try to navigate their way through their every day lives, in the world as it is today.

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Ravagers Box Set - Book 1 to 3 .... by Alex Albrinck

 

In the distant future, humanity staggers against wave after wave of population decimating catastrophes, and hope fades as the extinction point draws near.

They find a time capsule carrying with it the knowledge of the past, technology that allows them to rise above their meager existence. Within a few generations, they've built walled cities to protect them from predators they'd learned to fear, bustling commerce, and telecommunications capabilities that connect people and businesses.

They've also restored the means to make war. Two great factions control East and West, each preparing to fight while hoping war never comes. Humanity wouldn't dare fight a great war so soon after nearing extinction.

But there are some who would prefer those astonishingly low population counts. And they'll unleash a weapon unlike any other in human history to achieve those ends.

Five people with varying levels of knowledge and responsibility of those plans live their last normal day, unaware that they'll be fighting for their lives against a weapon which cannot be stopped.

But somehow, they'll all need to figure out how to survive the unleashing of... the Ravagers.

Kindle Edition : 535 Pages  Published : 23rd April 2017 

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Okay - this kills me to write this - I have tried and tried to get through the first Book (Activate) .... and I am struggling .... I wondered if it was only me, so I looked online ... and read other reviews for this book. Some didn't like it but persevered and found the whole set to be awesome.

I have tried and tried ... but I don't think that I have totally grasped what is happening truly ... and I am bored with trying to enjoy it ..... I can honestly say that I have never not finished a book before, and it breaks my heart .... to say ... I am going to walk away and not finish it.

I may come back to it ,,, at a later date ... but for now .... no, I just can't. I won't give it a rating ... that wouldn't be fair ....


Thursday, October 28, 2021

The Greek's Nine-Month Redemption - Maisey Yates

 

 

"I own your company. I own you."

Fury is all Elle St James feels when she looks at the man she once thought of as family. Apollo Savas has mercilessly destroyed her father's company, but she holds the last little piece!

Elle is determined to stop the stepbrother who is both sensual fantasy and darkest enemy. But their forbidden desire gives way to one illicit night that leaves untouched Elle with a life-changing consequence.

Now that she is irrevocably bound to Apollo, will nine months be long enough for Elle to redeem this brooding Greek?

When one night…leads to pregnancy!

Publication Date : June 2016  192 Pages

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This book is published by Harlequin ... we have all read some Mills and Boon books from time to time - they are a great reading these days.

This book was enjoyable - the relationship between the 2 of them had been simmering from the very first time that they met.

I found this story romantic, and sensual - at times you could feel the passion jumping off the page. 

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥

The Redesigned Ranch - Liz Isaacson

 

 The ranch foreman, the fiery new designer he hires, and an old flame that could burn them both...

Jace Lovell only has one thing left after his fiancée abandons him at the altar: his job at Horseshoe Home Ranch. He throws himself into becoming the best foreman the ranch has ever had—and that includes hiring an interior designer to make the ranch owner's wife happy.

Belle Edmunds is back in Gold Valley after she lost her job at a prestigious design firm in California. She's working for a conglomerate, but she's desperate to build a portfolio that she can use to start her own firm in Montana. She applies for the job at Horseshoe Home, and though Jace and Belle grew up together, they've never seen eye to eye on much more than the sky is blue.

The spark between them now that they're adults can't be denied, and as Jace and Belle attempt to work together, they also fight their growing attraction to each other. But Jace isn't anywhere near forgiving his fiancée, and he's not sure he's ready for a new relationship with someone as fiery and beautiful as Belle. Can she employ her patience while he figures out how to forgive so they can find their own brand of happily-ever-after?
 
Publication Date : 15th November 2020   366 Pages  ISBN :  979-8565470819
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I did enjoy reading this book - to be honest, from the beginning, 2 chapters in and I knew how this was going to end .... it was a bit of a slog, and I felt like it was a bit tiring this story.
I get being a Christian Romance, the story was a lot more tame than I am used to reading but I did feel that it could have had more emotion to the story and the characters.
Once the romance actually took hold of the pair of them, and you knew that they were going to end up together ... the book flowed just a little quicker - and then just like that ... it was over. I turn the page waiting for a little more - and I have to get the next book to see how things turn out after they are married.
I did like this story but I don't think that it grabbed me enough to want to go out and get the next book.

RATING : ♥ ♥

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Hey ... I'm not MIA ....

 Heyoooo .... I have not disappeared. LOL

I have started 2 books ... and both of them have been a real slog ... but I am pushing through with one of them ... the other one I will get back to at a later date.

I have a book to finish from NetGalley - and then hopefully I'll be able to get back into the swing of things ...  don't you get annoyed when a book drags?



Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Good Girl : A Rockstar Romance ( Wicked Book 1) - by Piper Lawson

 


Haley’s job is to keep rockstar Jax Jamieson out of trouble…

Not to fall for him.

I was hired to work for a legend. Instead, I’m being seduced by a man.

When I took an internship on rock god Jax Jamieson’s tour, I never thought he’d look twice at me. He’s older, cocky, jaded and nothing like the college guys I’m used to. 

 He’s gorgeous, rich, talented, and the biggest rockstar in the world.

Too bad I rubbed him the wrong way on day one. 

Now he takes divine pleasure in making my life hell. During soundcheck. On the road. At the hotel after shows.

I need this job for reasons he can never know. That’s why I have to be cool under that smoldering gaze and arrogant grin. 

The bigger problem is when the cynicism slips away, exposing the cracks beneath. When he lets his guard down to tell me things he hasn’t told a soul.

Because a million women might scream his name...

But he whispers mine.

GOOD GIRL is book 1 in the enthralling, emotional bestselling rockstar romance series WICKED. Start reading now--you'll be desperate to binge Jax and Haley's epic completed story!

Publication Date : October 13th 2018    Pages : 236 

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 I nearly didn't finish this book - the first couple of chapters didn't overly grab me ... Jax and Harley just didn't sound like a good connection to me, no matter what love story you throw around ... but as the chapters went on, I found myself understanding each character and beginning to enjoy watching their relationship grow. The banter between the pair of them is interesting - once Hayley let's her guard down.

Snippets here and there, touring on the bus, the limelight Jax is under at all times, Hayley trying to juggle her college work, her search for her father, her job on the road ... it all makes for a good storyline and then throw in all that Jax has happening in the background with his own family ... this is a good unfolding story.

So I am just settled down and ready to read, I turn the page ... and nothing ... it's done ... I have to get the next book in the series to see what happens with them ... smart move .... I will get the rest of the series, it's got me, I need closure on their relationship ... thanks Piper!

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Skies of Heaven - by Harmony Lawson

 

Ariella's life had been perfect until she saw her family disappear before her eyes. Now she has found herself to be the only survivor on the planet. Everyone vanished without a trace. Just as she is about to do something drastic, she is confronted by a man claiming she is an angel with amnesia and he has been looking for her for over seventeen years. He also says that she was placed in an alternate world where she believed herself to be the only survivor. Now Rumen and Ariella have to find Raziel, the angel who holds the secrets of the universe, who knows where the book of secrets is so they can use it to protect a special group of human survivors from being destroyed by demons. Can their budding relationship endure the trials they must face as Ariella tries to remember who she is and to protect the remaining survivors of the human race? Maybe they will find love in The Skies of Heaven?

Genre : Fantasy/Angels/Fiction   ISBN : 978-1502719676   Published : 19th April 2015

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I settled down with this book - and it felt vaguely familiar ... of course it was, I read this when it first came out but I enjoyed it that much I re-read it.

I found the storyline took a whole new look at Heaven and Earth ... it was great to actually read the way that the author described everything ... it was nice to look at things through different eyes.

Time seemed different ... once they had found Arielle, took her back to Heaven, with no memory of her angel life, showing her friends, places and a new lifestyle had it's moments ... but she stepped up and dealt with it and didn't back down, when she knew Earth was in trouble, all because the Demons were looking to destroy the surviving humans.

The unfolding of the love shared between Ariella and Rumen was well written ... and I did like the style of the writing of this book. They story had it's light and dark moments throughout ... but it flows well and is really enjoyable. As I said before, this is the 2nd time I have read the book and enjoyed it just as much as the first time ....

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Vampire Bait (The Angler Series Book 1) - by Annie Nicholas

 

Mysterious deaths have occurred in Budapest and vampires are suspected. Connie Bence fits the victim profile perfectly so her slayer boss sends her to draw out the vampires responsible, except when the bait is taken, the vampires escape with her as a hostage. She's hurled into vampire society, where she must face her greatest fear—her undeniable attraction to the vampire overlord Rurik. After her husband's death, Connie thought her heart too broken to ever love again, but the lure of an immortal man is strong. The body count keeps rising, the pressure is on, and the slayers want a stake through Rurik's heart. Is he guilty? Connie doesn't think so, but if not him, then who? If she doesn't find out soon, the people she cares about stand to become collateral damage. urban fantasy vampire book series

Published : January 18th 2014    Genre : Urban Fantasy   ISBN : 978-1451527759

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An enjoyable read ... from the beginning you do believe that Connie is playing a very dangerous game, anyone taking on Vampires must be pretty damn confident in their abilities. Her attraction to her target on this mission, Rurik, is instantaneous, and is the beginning of a spiral of mistakes that put her life and her heart in jeapordy.

I enjoyed this story - there was no long descriptions of places in Budapest, just enough to give your mind the pictures it needed to visualise in your mind what was happening.

As Connie had the ability for the majority of time to keep the Vampires out of her mind (unless she was drugged) I got the impression that she was made of tough stuff so I was a little surprised at how quickly she gave in to her attraction to Rurik, but it is a love story in the end, so I could deal with that.

The description of Rurik was great but I did not get a good feel of what Connie looked like .... I pictured her with dark hair .... apparently she was blonde.

If you get the chance to read this book, you will enjoy it. I am planning on reading the rest of the series when I get the chance.

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Sunday, October 3, 2021

A Little Bird - by Wendy James

 


Running from a bad relationship, journalist Jo Sharpe heads home to Arthurville, the drought-stricken town she turned her back on years earlier. While some things have changed—her relationship with her ailing, crotchety father, her new job at the community newspaper—Jo finds that her return has rekindled the grief and uncertainty she experienced during her childhood following the inexplicable disappearance of her mother and baby sister.

Returning to Arthurville has its unexpected pleasures, though, as Jo happily reconnects with old friends and makes a few new ones. But she can’t let go of her search for answers to that long-ago mystery. And as she keeps investigating, the splash she’s making begins to ripple outward—far beyond the disappearance of her mother and sister.

Jo is determined to dig as deep as it takes to get answers. But it’s not long before she realises that someone among the familiar faces doesn’t want her picking through the debris of the past. And they’ll go to any lengths to silence the little bird before she sings the truth.

Publication Date : November 30th 2021

Thanks NetGalley

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This book is written from a couple of perspectives - from Jo's and also from her mother Merry's.

I quite enjoyed the back and forth from the present to the past ... and I found that there was just the right amount of time given to each of their stories as the chapters went on. The author paints a perfect picture of each time .... and at no point do you feel confused with the characters, the scenes or the relationships amongst everyone in the book.

There is love, there is intrigue, there is friendship .... and there is also pain ... for Jo and her father Mick, trying even now, all these years later trying to work out what happened to Merry and little Amy. There is the long held hope that they are out there, not wanting to be found, living their best life. As the story unfolds, with snippets here and there, the mystery begins to unravel ... right down to the conclusion of the book ... where all the answers come together.

I think that Wendy James wrote this book really well ... it flowed, it was intriguing, and the story line was realistic, right to the end. I loved this book - and would highly recommend this book to anyone. Thank you for an enjoyable read.

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


Saturday, October 2, 2021

Fairies of Light - J.E. Hanson

 

This book starts off with Rosalie as a five year old girl. A social worker found her at the bottom of a closet as a baby. Due to tragic circumstances, she was reunited with her family as a five year old child. What happened to Rosalie as a baby? What happened to her parents? Will Rosalie ever find true happiness? Join us for the second book in the series with cameo appearances from your favorite Vampire Enforcers and Jeannie Justice from book 1.

ISBN : 978-1500273422   First Published : 2014   Genre : Fiction/Fantasy

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Okay ... I persevered with this book. It started off well .... and my heart was breaking for Rosalie .... she had a very rough start in life and seemed to be getting handed from family to family, only for the money they could get for taking her in, not for their care, concern or passion for her. Once rescued and taken back to her true home (Avalon) where she finds out that she is a Fairie and Royalty, her life begins a massive transformation, and she finds happiness and some sense of what it feels like to be loved by family. 

Settled - fast forward from a 5 year old returned to her true home - to a 16year old spoiled brat ... I didn't expect Rosalie to remain totally innocent and nice all the time, but she developed a rotten foul mouth, foul attitude and seemed to care only about what she wanted and I felt let down. The story line seemed to lose itself amongst all of that ... and I began to feel like I was reading an entirely different book.

Going through that stage of Rosalie - to the new Rosalie who is falling in love with Spike (who is really .... I am not going to tell you - you have to read the book to find out), the story then takes a slightly more adult turn ... to the endless attraction to Spike, the intimacy, and at one point it felt like it also was a seperate book. 

I finished this - don't know that I want to read the 3rd book though ... I felt like the writing lacked consistency - the style of writing seemed to change... and I felt at times like there was a lack of really confirming who was being written about. Characters became 'he' or 'she' ... at one point I had to backtrack to work out who 'she' was ... finally got it.

I finished this book but could have put it down ....

RATING : ♥ ♥ 

Monday, September 27, 2021

Thrilling Extract - COLD JUSTICE by Ant Middleton

Ant Middleton - former Soldier, TV Personality, Adventurer and Writer ...

Ant has just released a book called COLD JUSTICE ... and you can read an extract of the book HERE

If you are in the UK .... there is a link at the bottom of the page to win this book.

I've read the extract and I cannot wait to get the book and finish this story.



Sunday, September 26, 2021

Country Heaven .... by Ava Miles

 

When famous - and infamous - country singer Rye Crenshaw saunters into the diner where she cooks, Tory Simmons is certain she's got him pegged. He's a bad boy who indulges himself in all things, women included. But while she couldn't care less about country music or arrogant men, Rye makes her an offer she can't refuse when he asks her to be his private chef on his multi-city concert tour. The job is the answer to all her prayers: It will clear out her debt and finance the fresh start she desperately needs.

Rye is certain his sassy new cook is the last woman who'd ever tempt him, but spending time with the wholesome girl next door will do wonders for his damaged public image, whether she likes being forced into the spotlight or not. Her food also happens to be the best he's ever eaten, both comforting and seductive. But spending time with Tory on the road shows him a new side to her - one that's as impossible to resist as her food. And when an emergency in his family whisks him home, he does the one thing he's never risked: he lets a woman into his heart....

Soon the emotions Rye faked for the tabloids become all too real, but will the country heaven he's found in Tory's arms survive in the real world? 

ISBN: 9781940565057    First Published : 2014    Genre : Fiction/Romance

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I have to admit .. I loved this book ... I totally lost myself in the romance of boy meets girl scenario ... you know what I mean. The story flowed really well ... there was no "downtime" with this book ... it never once made me want to skip a page.

Descriptions were covered quite well ... not too much and not too little ... I definately could form pictures in my mind of how the houses looked etc. And the characters ... oh they were covered with a depth and clarity of their style and behaviours that rang true.

Tory - she could be any one of us - trying to make our way after losing family, being alone, and struggling emotionally & financially - and then Rye walks into her life offering her a chance to work for him, on the road while he tours across the country.

Rye Crenshaw is a success story .... his music creates adoration among fans and he makes himself available to as much female attention as he can, basically to help him forget his past, and make it through day after day ... convincing himself that he is happy with his life. The story explains why Rye leaves and has nothing to do with them .... until his father takes sick and his little sister calls him home.

All in all, I think the story covered the family issues, the emotional issues, the love issues, and came out a winner. And did I say earlier that this is the first book in The Dare river Series? I will have to get the rest of the series ... shame on me for not having them already.

Little side note - at the start of each chapter this is either a recipe(Tory) or the words of a song(Rye) ... I really did like that - some of those recipes and side stories that belonged with them sound awesome 

Would you like to read this book for free?  Click this link to get it free on Kindle and Audible HERE 

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Author Events - Dymocks/Penguin Books

 DYMOCKS AUTHOR EVENTS

Liz Byrski, Sara Foster, Natasha Lester and Judy Nunn are among the names you can see. Please check the link beside each author - to see if the event is still going ahead or postponed.

(image from Google)

PENGUIN BOOKS -AUSTRALIA 

Judy Nunn, John Safron, Sandie Docker & Monica McInerney - check the dates - some may require you to book to keep numbers within Covid Safe requirements. 


Friday, September 17, 2021

REBELONGING by Sabrina Stark

 

How do you come back from the biggest screw-up of your life? That's the question for Lawton Rastor, the billionaire bad boy from Detroit, after he lets the girl of his dreams not just slip through his fingers, but run away, fast – and with good reason. How do you resist a guy who's irresistible? That's the question for Chloe Malinski, the world's most overqualified waitress, after a nightmarish night leaves her vowing to avoid her fantasy guy for good – no matter how hard he works to win her back.

Chloe finds Lawton impossible to resist. Lawton finds Chloe impossible to forget. But finding that place to belong isn't easy when neither one knows where the other truly comes from.

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This is a full length book - and I think that it could have been cut down by a few pages.

The issue I mentioned in Unbelonging ... is still here in this book for about 90% of the time. It takes that long for Chloe to say all the right words to Lawton that she is a house sitter - she does not live there - and he doesn't care! He loves her - she loves him - that is the response she should have expected.

The back story about the Parkers ... it added to the story ... but I didn't feel that it was essential. It would have been great to have seen the story of Chloe's family feature a little more predominately than in the last part of the book only. The odd phone call here or there ... it needed more I think, and the story could have grown even further.

As in most stories - there is a happy ending ... I liked this book - just felt a little let down with the story

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥

Thursday, September 16, 2021

THE GLITTERING COURT by Richelle Mead

 

To escape an arranged marriage, Adelaide, an Osfridian countess, must pose as a servant and join the Glittering Court—a school designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She managers to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together, they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide's deception. Complications soon arise—first, as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and later, when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands . . .

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I'll be honest - I was really keen to read this book but it took a long time to grab my interest. I kept waiting for Adelaide to be discovered and returned to her home ... there was a lot of contradiction - Adelaide wants to escape from the plan of an arranged marriage, so she stows away with a group of women who are being sent to a school to be taught how to groom and prepare themselves for marriage to a stranger? Adelaide never really made any attempt to escape and make a new life for herself.

I found that the characters - well some of them - left me with questions and not answers.

Breaking ground in new lands was always going to bring hardships and stumbling blocks - to add to the love story between Adelaide and Cedric. There is always a bad guy waiting around the next corner to try and spoil the best laid plans.

I don't know what genre this book falls into ... Historical romance of Fantasy Romance ... maybe a little of both. In the end, I enjoyed the book and have the other 2 books in the series (which are stand alone books I think) but I will get around to reading them at some point.

To be honest ... at times this didn't feel like a Richelle Mead story at all. 

RATING : ♥ ♥

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

UNBELONGING by Sabrina Stark

 

With an accounting degree that's getting her nowhere, Chloe Malinski spends her nights waitressing and her days housesitting in a neighborhood that's infinitely beyond her reach or comfort zone. But she knows all too well that no one wants a pauper in their mansion, so she's gotten good – maybe a little too good – at faking it 'til she makes it.

With more baggage than any airline, Lawton Rastor made his money through prizefighting – and not the kind with padded gloves and some bow tie-wearing referee. He made it through the gritty, back alley kind where sweaty money changed hands over beer and bimbos.

She's a poor girl from Hamtramck. He's a billionaire bad boy from Detroit. They should've never crossed paths. But when they do, thanks to Chloe's latest housesitting gig, the collision of sparks, secrets, and misunderstandings leaves both of them yearning to belong exactly where they shouldn't – with each other. 

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I found the characters likeable and believable. 

Chloe's relationships with her family are not great - except for her grandmother and her best friend Erika, there is no one else that she gets to spend time with. House sitting keeps her in a style of comfort that she can only dream of ... while working in a job where she gets treated badly by her boss Keith as well as some of the cutomers.

The relationship with Lawton starts off slowly and grows ... which is a nice change from eyes meeting to ending up passionately in love and sleeping together in a glance. Lawton does not live up to his bad boy name - except when it looks like Chloe may be in harm and then he steps up. He comes across at the start of the book as a party boy and player - but that soon changes and he is a business man, and someone who is trying to leave his past behind.

My one complaint with these type of stories - why does Chloe find it so hard to tell the truth about house sitting? Do authors really think that it adds to the story? No ... it doesn't - it frustrates because you know the truth will come out and a whole lot of drama could be saved by being truthful from the beginning. I think there could be a better back story with coming clean from the beginning and judging his character - his acceptance or denial of her, this would have added to the book.

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Monday, September 13, 2021

WORKING CLASS MAN by Jimmy Barnes


THE SEQUEL TO THE NUMBER 1 BESTSELLER WORKING CLASS BOY It's a life too big and a story too extraordinary for just one book. 

Jimmy Barnes has lived many lives - from Glaswegian migrant kid to iconic front man, from solo superstar to proud father of his own musical clan. In this hugely anticipated sequel to his critically acclaimed bestseller, Working Class Boy, Jimmy picks up the story of his life as he leaves Adelaide in the back of an old truck with a then unknown band called Cold Chisel. 

A spellbinding and searingly honest reflection on success, fame and addiction; this self-penned memoir reveals how Jimmy Barnes used the fuel of childhood trauma to ignite and propel Australia's greatest rock'n'roll story. But beyond the combustible merry-go-round of fame, drugs and rehab, across the Cold Chisel, solo and soul years - this is a story about how it's never too late to try and put things right.

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And so the story continues - there are times that Jimmy comes close to self destructing - close to having the band members take off in 4 different directions - close to losing everything good that touches him.

If you loved the first book - you will love this one too .. it's honest and raw - at times it's downright brutal feeling the stumbles, but watching the climb back up to make things right.

Now both of these bookies have sold well over 500,000 - and this is not the end of books from Jimmy. There is another one called Killing Time : Short Stories from the Long Road Home

Also a Cook Book and a Kids Book - one heck of a guy ....

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

WORKING CLASS BOY by Jimmy Barnes

 


Raw, gritty, compassionate, surprising and darkly funny - Australian legend Jimmy Barnes' unforgettable childhood memoir.

The time I have spent writing this book has caused me a lot of pain. Sometimes because of what I have remembered about my childhood and sometimes because of what I couldn't remember. It is funny how your mind blocks things out when those things can hurt you. There are a lot of things I wish I didn't remember....

A household name, an Australian rock icon, the elder statesman of OzPubRock - there isn't an accolade or cliché that doesn't apply to Jimmy Barnes. But long before Cold Chisel and Barnesy, long before the tall tales of success and excess, there was the true story of James Dixon Swan - a working class boy whose family made the journey from Scotland to Australia in search of a better life.

Working Class Boy is a powerful reflection on a traumatic and violent childhood that fuelled the excess and recklessness which would define but almost destroy the rock 'n' roll legend. This is the story of how James Swan became Jimmy Barnes. It is a memoir burning with the frustration and frenetic energy of teenage sex, drugs, violence and ambition for more than what you have.

Raw, gritty, compassionate, surprising and darkly funny - Jimmy Barnes' childhood memoir is at once the story of migrant dreams fulfilled and dashed. Arriving in Australia in the summer of 1962, things went from bad to worse for the Swan family - Dot, Jim and their six kids. The scramble to manage in the tough northern suburbs of Adelaide in the '60s would take its toll on the Swans as dwindling money, too much alcohol and fraying tempers gave way to violence and despair.

This is the story of a family's collapse, but it is also the story of a young boy's dream to escape the misery of the suburbs with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join a rock 'n' roll band and get out of town for good. 

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Everyone knows who Jimmy Barnes is ... if you grew up in Australia .. you know Cold Chisel ... then you know who he is ... BUT you really don't know him at all. We know the musician, the man that stood on stage swigging out of a bottle - maybe to hide the pain as well as be a part of the scene ... but his upbringing was tough and you just realise how much when you start reading this book.

Learning to survive .... with little money, even less love ... his family did it tough and you totally get to understand why Jimmy wanted out of there as soon as he could.

The constants in his life, did let him know that there was another side to life ... and he took a journey to find the life he wanted, the love he desired and the music became a part of all of us that grew up with him.

I read this book when I was first in hospital when I was having open heart surgery ... I forgot that Jimmy had heart surgery too. I could not put this book down - I felt his pain, I felt his joy and I felt the numbness that came across me at times reading his story.

This is brilliant - and the follow up book WORKING CLASS MAN doesn't disappoint ... I will review that one later ... 

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Sunday, September 12, 2021

WHISPER by Lynette Noni

 


“Lengard is a secret government facility for extraordinary people,” they told me.
I believed them. That was my mistake.
There isn’t anyone else in the world like me.
I’m different. I’m an anomaly. I’m a monster. 
For two years, six months, fourteen days, eleven hours and sixteen minutes, Subject Six-Eight-Four — ‘Jane Doe’ — has been locked away and experimented on, without uttering a single word.
As Jane’s resolve begins to crack under the influence of her new — and unexpectedly kind — evaluator, she uncovers the truth about Lengard’s mysterious ‘program’, discovering that her own secret is at the heart of a sinister plot … and one wrong move, one wrong word, could change the world.
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My niece gave me this book - and she said it's unlike other books - the story line will leave you wondering and she was right ....

I cannot imagine not talking for over 2 years ... but to keep herself and everyone else safe she does.
We follow the story of how some melt her heart and teach her to use her voice .... but for good or evil?

It's not cut and dried - so many unanswered questions .... so there is one more book in the series called Weapon - does this give you the answer as to who really is the good guy? 

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Lynette Noni grew up in outback Australia ... check out her website HERE

Saturday, September 11, 2021

FAITHLESS by Julie Johnson

 

After twenty years in the same small town, Faith Morrissey throws caution to the wind and books herself a one-way ticket to Europe. She's not sure what to expect from her year-long study abroad trip, but she wants - needs - something different. Something exciting. Something that sets her soul on fire and makes her heart pound a bit too fast inside her chest.

Enter: him.

Dark-eyed, dangerous, and utterly irresistible. One look at Wes, and she's a goner - despite all the warning signs that tell her he's trouble. The more time they spend together, the more apparent it becomes that he's keeping secrets. Secrets that could jeopardize not only their future together... but their very lives.

When the truth about Wes finally comes to light, Faith will be forced to decide: what do you do if the love of your life is living a lie?

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Nice read - Boy meets Girl - and so the story begins to unfold. Faith with her innocence is mesmerized by Wes' looks and mystery ... what a combination!

The chapters alternate - one is Faith's look at events and then the next one is from Wes' outlook. The story flows quite well ... I didn't find myself trying to recall events or conversations, so I felt that everything just slotted into space nicely. I felt like the ending came quite quickly when Wes realised that he had left Faith vulnerable by not realising who the leak in the agency was before he left.

All that said - it was an enjoyable read ....

RATING : ♥ ♥ ♥

Sunday, September 5, 2021

What are you reading now?

 

Book 2 in the series .... you can buy the book HERE
I just started last night .... will review this once finished.
 
 

Friday, September 3, 2021

Hello ... my oh my it's been awhile .....

 OMG - so hard to believe that I have not been on this blog for close to 10 years!

I bet you all thought I was done for - no longer around or stopped reading/blogging altogether.

Nothing could be further from the truth - I have my other blog which I took a break from for about 5 years - during that time I had a heart attack .... and open heart surgery. Totally recovered now - and about 10 kilos heavier due to not working and sitting on my butt - thanks Covid.

Anyway - I am going to give this blog a facelift - redo the header etc and get back to posting here. I wonder how many people will come back and check it out again .... time will tell.

I am on the look out for new and exciting Book Blogs ... TV Blogs .... Movie Blogs .... so feel free to hit me up in the comments with any you would like to share. I will be doing a drop by on the blogs I follow from here to see who is still sharing amazing books etc ....

Keep your eyes open ... I think it's going to look good and read well in here again very soon.