The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson @recordedbooks #historicalfiction #bookreview

Overview

Drawing on the little-known true story of one tragic night at an Ozarks dance hall in 1928, this beautifully written novel, told through interwoven narratives generations apart, is a thrilling tale of love, loss, and reinvention.

At birth, Violet and Rose Flowers were identical, save for a tiny bluish-purple mark gracing Violet’s slender neck. By nineteen, their temperaments distinguish them, as different as the flowers their mother named them for—Violet, wild, and outgoing, and Rose, solitary and reserved. Still, they are each other’s world. Then, on a sweltering, terrible August night in 1928, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, engulfing it in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens dead, and her sister’s life forever changed.

Fifty years later, Daisy Flowers is dumped on her grandmother Rose’s doorstep for the summer. A bright, inquisitive fifteen-year-old, Daisy bargains her way into an internship at the local newspaper—where she learns of the mysterious long-ago tragedy and its connection to her family. Rose, now the local funeral home director, grows increasingly alarmed as her impulsive granddaughter delves into Possum Flats’ history, determined to uncover the horrors and heroes of the fiery blast.

For a small town, Possum Flats holds a multitude of big secrets, some guarded by the living, some kept by the dead. And through Rose, Daisy, Dash—a preacher who found his calling that fateful night—and others, those ghosts gradually come into the light, forcing a reckoning at last.

This audiobook is narrated by Jim Frangione, Andrea Gallo, L.J. Ganser, Laura Knight Keating, Christina Moore, and Graham Winton.

Review

Daisy’s mom has dropped her off with her grandmother at Possum Flats, MO. This is absolutely not where she wants to be. She ends up with a job for the summer at the local newspaper. She uncovers a tragedy in this small town and no one has ever talked about it. She writes a series of articles about this tragedy that killed several young people. This causes numerous secrets to come out of the past!

I really enjoyed Daisy. She is a go getter and she does not let grass grow under her feet. She went after the internship at the small town newspaper and got it! This gave her a purpose. I also felt like it helped ease her pain of her mother (you will need to read this to find out!). She definitely stirs up trouble for this close knit small town and uncovers quite a few secrets and causes some major drama!

Now, I did figure out one of the secrets and you will too. But, that did not stop me from loving everyone in this tale!

Y’all know I love an audiobook which has several narrators. This one is narrated by Jim Frangione, Andrea Gallo, L.J. Ganser, Laura Knight Keating, Christina Moore, Graham Winton. And this team of talented narrators made this story so real!

Need a good historical tale with a family twist…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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A Short Walk Through A Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke @avidreaderpress #bookreview #historicalfiction

Overview

Imagine The Life of Pi, The Alchemist, and The Midnight Library rolled into one fantastical fable.” —The New York Times Book Review

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A dazzlingly epic debut that charts the incredible, adventurous life of one woman as she journeys the globe trying to outrun a mysterious curse that will destroy her if she stops moving.

Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her backpack that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she starts to bleed to death.

When medical treatment only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realizes that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her lifelong journey on the run from her condition, which won’t allow her to stay anywhere for longer than a few days nor return to a place where she’s already been.

From the scorched dunes of the Calashino Sand Sea to the snow-packed peaks of the Himalayas; from a bottomless well in a Parisian courtyard, to the shelves of an infinite underground library, we follow Aubry as she learns what it takes to survive and ultimately, to truly live. But the longer Aubry wanders and the more desperate she is to share her life with others, the clearer it becomes that the world she travels through may not be quite the same as everyone else’s…

Fiercely independent and hopeful, yet full of longing, Aubry Tourvel is an unforgettable character fighting her way through a world of wonders to find a place she can call home. A spellbinding and inspiring story about discovering meaning in a life that seems otherwise impossible, A Short Walk Through a Wide World reminds us that it’s not the destination, but rather the journey—no matter how long it lasts—that makes us who we are.

Review

Aubry has a strange condition. She has had it since she was 9 years old and she found a strange puzzle ball. Her condition is that she bleeds to death. She discovers that nothing works except to keep moving. So, she has been traveling the world her whole life to keep this condition at bay.

Aubry is a unique character and the puzzle ball…this had me guessing all throughout this novel.

I did find this tale a bit wordy and monotonous. Aubry’s condition is very interesting and intriguing but it does get a bit repetitive. I did enjoy the countries and the libraries! This added a lot for this avid reader.

Need a story which takes you all over the world…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Crying in the Rain by Mark Ribowsky @tantoraudio #nonfiction #biography

Overview

The Everly Brothers—aka Don and Phil to fans with an intimate appreciation for them—seemed to exist almost as an apparition. Emerging within the formative era for young Baby Boomers during the blandly regimented ’50s, they were a ubiquitous presence, clad in snug suits and skinny ties, hair neatly Brylcreemed, never raising their voices when they sang. The two prim-looking country boys with dark, curiously penetrating eyes and perfectly merged, honey-dipped harmonies, were oddly but comfortably settled as sentimental, soothing, sometimes lovelorn voices of a still-uncharted cultural turf.

Magnificent as the duo was, they have until now never received a definitive biography. In Crying in the Rain: The Perfect Harmony and Imperfect Lives Of the Everly Brothers, the details, small and great, roll along on the mighty “Mississippi,” in near novel-like fashion, revealing facts drawn from exhaustive research and first-hand interviews that trace the character and influences of these hardy but flawed men who grew from teenagers to old men before our eyes. Mark Ribowsky’s authoritative book serves as a fitting companion to an unforgettable collection of songs-heard on countless albums, and covered literally thousands of times-whose recording was a long time gone but that will never be forgotten.

Review

My mother, being a 50s girl, introduced me to The Everly Brothers at a very young age. I have been a fan ever since! So, I jumped on the chance to read more about their smooth sound, unique harmony and their amazing career.

I did learn quite a few pieces of information in this book. I did not know about their tumultuous relationship, the many marriages and the drug use. Basically because I never read much about this unique pair.

Even though I learned a great deal, I felt this account of the Everly brothers had a great deal of repeats. It is almost like the author just wanted to make the book longer. It was a tad bit monotonous.

The narrator, Steve Menasche, did a good job. He is probably the reason I kept listening.

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

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Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth @macmillanaudio @stmartinspress #audiobookreview #smpinfluencers

Overview

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER… Sally Hepworth’s new novel has it all.

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

A thrilling work of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

Review

Jessica, Norah and Alicia have been raised in a foster home by Miss Fairchild. On the outside, it looks like they are so lucky. They live in a nice home on a farming estate. But, all is not as tranquil as it seems!

These three sisters have grown up now and have their own lives. They have stayed very close. So, when the cops find a dead body on their foster home estate, these three circle the wagons and become very tight lipped and protective.

All three of these young women have issues from their time in foster care. And it all goes back to Miss Fairchild and her unpredictability and her insane behavior.

I have only read a couple of books by this author and they have been 3-4 star reads for me. BUT YALL! This book is so good! I could not stop listening to it. You just knew something creepy and evil went on, you just couldn’t quite put your finger on what. You think you know…but do you???

The narrator, Jessica Clarke, nailed it! I love a narrator that is strong and steady!

Need a good thriller which will have you guessing till the end…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch @harlequinbooks #bookreview #suspense

Overview

A perfect storm of thrilling suspense and intricate plot twists that will leave readers breathless!” –Nancy Mehl, author of the Ryland & St. Clair series

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.

FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.  

Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.

As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…

Review

FBI Agent Tiberius Granger has a new case. And it is more than unsettling. These young ladies are being found posed in front of lighthouses. AND they have tattoos of flowers on their bodies that match their name. The more Ty investigates the more this case takes him into his past. A past he would rather forget.

Now, I am not big on Christian fiction. This is not a genre I enjoy. Doesn’t mean I am not a Christian…don’t come for me! Even though this is classified as Christian fiction, I did not feel like it was over the top in this area, which is a good thing for me!

This story has a cult, one of the creepiest villains, and a large amount of intensity! I read this in one sitting…granted I was trapped on a plane…but y’all! I was so captivated and glued to this book, I barely looked up!

This is part of a series but it is not necessary that you read them in order.

Need a good thriller to give you the creeps…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Eat and Get Gas by J. A. Wright #bookreview @suzyapbookreviews @shewritespress

Overview

Thirteen-year-old Evan Hanson is always the last in her family to know what’s going on. Her father, Gene, who’s been meaner since he began serving in Vietnam, isn’t around much, and she likes it better that way. But then her brother, Adam, gets drafted and her anti-war mother, Endura, takes him across the border to Canada, leaving Evan alone with Gene and her younger, special needs brother, Teddy.

When he realizes Endura isn’t returning, Gene takes Evan and Teddy to Eat and Get Gas, his mother’s cafe and gas station. There, as well as her no-nonsense but loving grandma, Evan encounters Aunt Vivian, a teasing but caring know-it-all; Uncle Frankie, injured in Vietnam and suffering from PTSD; Paco, the draft dodger Frankie is hiding; Hal and Hubert, the strange but gentle next-door neighbors; and Louanne, Frankie’s reserved sister. She is drawn in particular to Louanne, who was disfigured by a car accident that killed the rest of her and Frankie’s family.

At Eat and Get Gas, Evan finds a new freedom, and she starts to carve out a place for herself. She eventually, too, learns some of the family secrets she’s been kept in the dark about—and comes to understand that her mother isn’t coming back any time soon. Then, after reading a letter that wasn’t meant for her, Evan discovers the biggest secret of all.

Review

Evan’s world has been rocked when her mother takes her older brother, Adam, across the border into Canada and leaves her with her disabled brother, Teddy, and her mean father. Adam’s number has come up and he has been drafted to Vietnam. Evan’s dad, Gene, has just returned from Vietnam and he is no longer the father she knows.

Gene loads her and Teddy up and takes them to his mother’s place, a restaurant called Eat and Get Gas. This place helps Evan grow and gives her a purpose.

I really enjoyed how the author makes the reader attach themselves to Evan. I just wanted to jump through the pages on more than one occasion and help her. Between her dad and her Uncle Frankie…you just need to read this and find out!

This story creates a ton of emotions…anger, sadness, protection, just to name a few. Then there are the family secrets. This is one of my favorite tropes, I love a book with family secrets and this one has quite a few!

Need a story which will take your breath away in places…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the author for a honest opinion.

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The Beautiful People by Michelle Gable #bookreview #historicalfiction @harlequinbooks

Overview

Set against the glamorous 1960s Jet Set—a failed debutante’s new job as assistant to society photographer Slim Aarons takes her into Palm Beach’s inner circle, and into a beguiling friendship with the star at its center, fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer

“This glittering novel shines as brightly as its heroine. A true delight.” —Nicola Harrison, author of Hotel Laguna

Washington Post Best Book of April * PureWow Best Book of Summer

It’s 1961, and for Margo Hightower, everything is about to change. True, her engagement is off, her family has fallen in scandal, and she’s completely broke. But she’s just been hired as assistant to photographer Slim Aarons—famous for his vibrant pictures of high society, royalty, and Hollywood stars—and she knows this opportunity is her ticket to something better.

From the bright beaches of Acapulco to glitzy parties in New York, Margo is thrown headfirst into the glamorous jet-set world she so covets, observing its ways from behind the camera as Slim’s sidekick. There’s Jackie Kennedy, Truman Capote’s Swans, a host of Vanderbilts. Beautiful people in beautiful places.

But when they land in Palm Beach, a scene with few rules and many riches, the lines between work and play begin to blur. As Margo becomes swept up in the city’s social circle—and into a friendship with heiress and rising fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer—the golden life seems increasingly in reach. Until she finds herself entangled in a complicated web of loyalties and secrets that could bring it all crashing down…

Review

Margo’s engagement has been called off. She is out of money and out of options! She takes a job as a photographer’s assistant and this changes her world in more ways than one.

I loved Margo. She truly came into her own as this story moves along. She knew nothing about working or about photography. But she has an eye and Slim Aarons, photographer extraordinaire, capitalizes on it on more than one occasion.

I had no idea about several of these famous characters in this novel. Lilly Pulitzer is definitely famous down here in the south. She was one of the most intriguing figures in this story. Her intelligence and charisma comes through the pages and puts everyone to shame!

Need a good tale about some famous people…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan @liandolan @wunderkindpr #bookreview @wmmorrowbooks

Overview

What if you could take a vacation from your marriage? A couple decides to give it a shot in this fun, adventurous novel by Lian Dolan, the popular author of The Sweeney Sisters and Lost and Found in Paris.

After twenty-three years of building careers and raising kids together, Jason and Nicole Elswick are ready for a break from their daily lives. Jason has spent years planning his dream sabbatical—ditching work for a nine-month-long motorcycle trip through South America. Problem is, that’s Jason’s dream, not Nicole’s. After years working retail and parenting in Portland, Nicole craves the sun of the Southwest and the artistic community in Santa Fe, where she wants to learn jewelry design.

A chance encounter at a dinner party presents a surprising—and intriguing—way out of their dilemma. Over a little too much wine, Jason and Nicole’s married neighbors sing the praises of the 500 Mile Rule: their policy of enjoying themselves however they wish—and with whomever they wish—when they’re temporarily far apart. It seems like the perfect solution: nine months pursuing their own adventures—with a bit of don’t-ask-don’t-tell—and then a return to their shared lives. It’ll be a sabbatical from their marriage as well as their day jobs.

As Jason bikes his way across a continent and Nicole reclaims the art she’s long neglected, they discover the pleasures and pitfalls of the 500 Mile Rule, confronting temptations of all kinds, uncomfortable truths about themselves, and gaining new perspective on their partnership.

But all sabbaticals come to an end…then what?

Overview

Jason has earned a sabbatical from work. He has it all planned. He is going to be totally unplugged in the wilderness of South America. Nicole is having second thoughts. She does not want to go. She has decided she wants to go to Santa Fe and learn to make jewelry.

These two come up with a plan of the 500 mile rule. They can enjoy someone else’s company while they are apart. Don’t ask, don’t tell!

Now, I am not going to lie. When I first started this book, I thought, oh, this is not going to be for me. But, I kept going. And it did get better! And it is because the characters are so well written. But, I also had a bit of trouble with their decisions. Which is the whole point of this story. This is not your normal romance, nor is it something I would ever even consider. But, to each his own!

This is more of a story about renewal and self care. But, then realization hits and these two realize they love each other more than they thought.

I have read another book by this author, Lost and Found in Paris. I enjoyed it as well! So, if this different type of marriage is not for you, check out this other book! I enjoyed it as well!

Need a unique tale of marriage…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains #bookreview @readforeverpub #womensfiction #romance

Overview

This heart-warming second chance love story about hope and healing from USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains is perfect for fans of Raeanne Thayne and Jenny Hale!

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks.

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with.

Review

Savannah has been diagnosed with lupus. And because of her issues, her fiancé has just up and left. So, she heads back to see her favorite Aunt Eleanor. She knows her aunt will be just what she needs to get herself back on track. But, Savannah was not prepared to run into her first love, Evan.

Savannah is not looking for a relationship…AT ALL! But when she runs into Evan, her emotions run rampant.

Evan has lost wife and is raising a young daughter. And he is definitely not letting Savannah get away twice!

I needed a good book a plane ride and this one hit the spot. The characters are adorable and who doesn’t love a book about books! Lots of great book references!

Need a heartwarming tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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The Stranger by Kiersten Modglin #audiobook #audiblebookreview @dreamscapeaudio

Overview

Never trust a stranger…

But late at night and trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, Tibby and Walker have no choice. With roads shutting down and cell towers out, running into each other and deciding to travel together could either be their saving grace or worst mistake.

When they’re forced to take an unexpected detour and seek refuge in a roadside motel, the storm quickly becomes the least of their worries. A disturbing discovery in the motel, the questionable actions of the mysterious owner and fellow guests, and a news report about a missing couple in the area set the scene for a terrifying night, but the worst is yet to come.

Each stranger holds a secret, but which one should be trusted?

Review

Tibby has broken up with her boyfriend on a stranded stretch of road and now it is snowing! Along comes Walker. After some convincing, Tibby gets in his car. Because of the weather, these two end up in a hotel with no name on the side of the road. Then the weird stuff starts happening!

When Tibby got into Walker’s car, I did a mental head slap! I mean…how stupid can you be! But she had no options, stay outside in the snow or get into a warm car. Well? Did she make the right decision? You will have to read this to find out!

I enjoy this author! I love how she created so much suspicion around every character. I really had no idea who the villain was in this book. I enjoy a good guessing game!

The narrators, Saskia Maarleveld; Traci Odom; John Pirhalla, are so good! I love a production in a narration and this book nailed it!

Need a good mystery to make your day go by faster…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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