My Wife is Missing by D.J. Palmer @stmartinspress @macmillanaudio #bookreview #audiobook #suspense

Overview

When a woman disappears with her two children, one husband will do anything to find them—even confront the secrets of his own past—in D. J. Palmer’s My Wife Is Missing, a twisty thriller from the author of The New Husband…

A family vacation turns into a nightmare for Michael Hart when he discovers his wife and two children have disappeared from their New York City hotel room. Horrified, he fears they’ve been kidnapped. Michael’s frantic search to find them takes a shocking turn when he discovers that his wife, Natalie, appears to have left quite willingly, taking their children with her. The police want to know why, and so does Michael. But there may be a reason why Natalie ran, something Michael can’t tell the police—the truth about his past.

While untangling his deceptions might be the key to locating Natalie, Michael knows it could also be his undoing. To find his wife, he must now turn to the one person capable of exposing all that he’s been hiding. Natalie thinks she has Michael all figured out and has hatched a plan to escape from him permanently. One detail, though, threatens to derail her efforts: sleep—or more accurately, the lack of it. Since the moment the shocking revelations about her husband came to light, Natalie’s insomnia has worsened to the point that she now suffers from delusions.

Are her fears about Michael valid—or a symptom of her condition? With her children’s lives at risk, the stakes for Natalie could not be higher. On her own, running low on energy and resources, avoiding increasingly close calls with Michael—who is on the hunt and closing in fast—Natalie needs someone to turn to for help. But who can she trust when she can’t even trust herself?

Review

Natalie is on the run! She has given her husband the slip. She and her two children are running away as fast as they can. But, why? Has Natalie finally lost it? With her chronic insomnia, it is a possibility. But what about Michael? What has Natalie learned, or thought she learned, about his past?

Wow! Talk about a wild ride! This book had me all over the place…is she crazy? Did he do it? Did she do it? I swear! I had no clue. And usually I figure something out. Nope…completely blindsided by the ending!

This is a story which was twisting and turning all over the place. I listened to this over a 2 day period…usually it takes me a good bit longer on an audiobook. But, I was completely captivated and could not get to the end fast enough. Definitely an edge of your seat read!

The narrator, Karissa Vacker, is now one of the top narrators in my book! She did an amazing job, especially on the kids voices. That is something most narrators get wrong.

Need a book 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.

Purchase Here

Chirp

BookBub

Audible

Amazon

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Iconoclast by Laurie Buchanan @gosparkpress @tueswithlaurie #bookreview #fiction

Overview

Burdened by the pressing weight of survivor’s guilt, Sean McPherson, an ex-cop, is desperate for redemption. At Pines & Quill, a writer’s retreat in the Pacific Northwest, he and his fiancée, Emma Benton, are planning their lives together. He wants to go back into law enforcement. She plans to walk again.

Georgio “The Bull” Gambino, head of a Seattle-based crime family, has a long reach. Like cockroaches, his minions infiltrate even the most inaccessible of places to do his bidding. With Seattle to the south, the Canadian border a stone’s throw to the north, and Bellingham Bay—a gateway to the Pacific Ocean—immediately to the west, Bellingham is the ideal location for the Gambino crime family to traffic drugs, weapons, and humans. But McPherson’s in Gambino’s way, which means he must be eliminated.

The writers in residence at Pines & Quill include an Afghanistan War veteran, a professional photographer, a civil rights attorney, and a gourmet chef. But McPherson suspects that there’s more going on than the joy of creating plot twists. Is one of them conspiring murder outside the pages of their manuscript?

Review

Sean McPherson is an ex-cop who is now helping his sister at her writers retreat, Pines & Quill. He and his fiancé are looking forward to their new life together. But, this new batch of writers have an imposter in their midsts. Can Sean figure out what is going on before someone gets hurt?

This story picks up right where the first book, Indelible , stops. However, you can also read this second novel as a stand alone. But, I did enjoy knowing about Sean’s background. He is one of my favorite characters. He is broken in so many ways but his strength comes through in every twist and turn. And believe me…this story has plenty which keep you on your toes!

I love the setting of Pines & Quills. I can just picture the area and these wonderful cabins. And these writers with all of their quirks, really add to the story. Plus…the intensity of this tale will keep you coming back for more!

Need a good mystery you can’t put down…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

Purchase Here

Bookbub

Amazon

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian @doubledaybooks #historicalfiction #bookreview

Overview

A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage in this riveting historical thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant.

“The best possible combination of Hemingway and Agatha Christie — a gorgeously written story about the landscape and risks of Africa, whose edge-of-your-seat plot makes it impossible to put down.”
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

Tanzania, 1964. When Katie Barstow, A-list actress, and her new husband, David Hill, decide to bring their Hollywood friends to the Serengeti for their honeymoon, they envision giraffes gently eating leaves from the tall acacia trees, great swarms of wildebeests crossing the Mara River, and herds of zebras storming the sandy plains. Their glamorous guests—including Katie’s best friend, Carmen Tedesco, and Terrance Dutton, the celebrated Black actor who stars alongside Katie in the highly controversial film Tender Madness—will spend their days taking photos, and their evenings drinking chilled gin and tonics back at camp, as the local Tanzanian guides warm water for their baths. The wealthy Americans expect civilized adventure: fresh ice from the kerosene-powered ice maker, dinners of cooked gazelle meat, and plenty of stories to tell over lunch back on Rodeo Drive.

What Katie and her glittering entourage do not expect is this: a kidnapping gone wrong, their guides bleeding out in the dirt, and a team of Russian mercenaries herding their hostages into Land Rovers, guns to their heads. As the powerful sun gives way to night, the gunmen shove them into abandoned huts and Katie Barstow, Hollywood royalty, prays for a simple thing: to see the sun rise one more time. A blistering story of fame, race, love, and death set in a world on the cusp of great change, The Lioness is a vibrant masterpiece from one of our finest storytellers.

Review

Katie Barstow is a superstar actress. She has just recently wed her new husband, David Hill. Instead of a normal honeymoon, they decide to spend their honeymoon with many of their friends on a safari in the Serengeti. The trip begins with some unique experiences but then it turns deadly!

I love the setting and the time period of this novel. This tale encompasses many issues of race and sexuality. I also found Carmen, Kate’s best friend, to be one of the best characters in the whole book. Talk about the unexpected…she is not a woman whom I expected to be the strength of the whole safari.

However, I enjoyed this story but I did not like the format. First off, there are tons of characters and a lot of these characters tell their own point of view. So, you have quite a few different narrators. But the thing I hated most was the time jumping. There are tons of flashbacks per person. Some of these flashbacks start before the safari and some are early life. It just seems a bit scattered and hard to follow.

I am a huge fan of this author and while I found this story to not be one of my favorites, it is still one that has stayed with me. I can see this making a wonderful movie.

Need a good story with a an unusual setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Book bub

Amazon

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Get Close by Matt Miksa #audiobook #audiblebook #supernaturalthriller @dreamscapeaudio

Overview

Special Agent Vera Taggart walked away from a promising career as an artist to join the FBI, and she impresses her new colleagues with her eerie ability to divine conclusions from the grisliest crime scenes. Taggart’s first assignment is a decades-old cold case centered on a cult of suicide bombers known as the Sons of Elijah who believe they’ve been reborn hundreds of times. It seems like a low-risk assignment until a bomb tears apart a crowded restaurant. 

The Sons of Elijah have returned – and now it’s up to Taggart to stop their modern-day reign of terror. Taggart’s investigation begins with Dr. Seth Jacobson, a renowned psychiatrist who claims to help people remember past lives through hypnotherapy. Jacobson had treated two of the Sons of Elijah’s founders before they’d gone on to commit a series of horrific murders. Desperate to understand how these ordinary patients could have taken such a violent path, Taggart agrees to undergo similar treatment with Jacobson. Through her hypnosis sessions, Taggart comes to suspect the Sons of Elijah are targeting a high-tech government laboratory that could expose the group’s greatest secret with a controversial experiment. To save millions of innocent lives, she must come to grips with the shocking truth about the cult and her own puzzling role in its timeless mission. 

The fate of humanity rests on her ability to determine which threats are real and which exist only in her mind – and to decide whose side she’s really fighting for.

Review

FBI Agent Vera Taggert is on the trail of a domestic terrorist group called the Sons of Elijah. The investigation leads her to a famous psychiatrist, Seth Jacobson. She is intrigued in more ways than one. She decides to let him hypnotize her. What she discovers is not exactly what she expected.

Being a person who very seldom reads a blurb, I am a judge a book by it’s cover girl, this story took me by surprise. I expected more of an FBI thriller/mystery tale. And, it is that…but, it is a bit more complicated. This novel delves into the supernatural/reincarnation arena. So…SURPRISE! At first, I was like…hmmm, what have I gotten myself into. But, the story continued to capture my imagination and attention, especially the historical flashbacks. I loved the Montségur sections. Very well researched!

Now, it did get a little “out there” toward the end, especially the part about the way the FBI recruited Vera But, that is the genre. So, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. It is definitely unique and entertaining.

Kristin Price is the narrator and she is perfect for this book!

Need a good, unique thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

Purchase Here

Chirp

Book Bub

Amazon

Audible

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Best of Me by Sharon Sala @sourcebookscasa #bookreview #fiction

Overview

Sharon Sala is a consummate storyteller. If you can stop reading then you’re a better woman than me.”—DEBBIE MACOMBER, #1 New York Times bestselling author

There’s never a dull moment in Blessings, Georgia:

  • An orphaned little girl desperately needs a new home
  • An eager couple is ready to welcome her with open arms
  • Friendly neighbors are always there for each other
  • In this southern small town, good things happen to good people

Ruby Butterman and her husband, Peanut, cannot have children, but they’re given a second chance at a family when eight-year-old orphan Carlie is left in their care. It’s a challenge for Carlie to adapt to a new town, a new school, and a new family, and when she gets bullied at school, Ruby and Peanut discover how to step up as parents, and how to make a forever family for their beloved little girl.

No summer reading list is complete without a deep, hopeful, and exciting small town romance by Sharon Sala!

“Sharon Sala’s Blessings, Georgia series is filled with unforgettable charm and delight!”—ROBYN CARR, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Review

Carlie and her mom show up at the police station in Blessings, GA just moments before Carlie’s mom, Shirley, dies. Shirley had a heart condition and she knew she had to get Carlie taken care of. So, she heads to the best person she knows, Ruby. She knows Ruby will take care of her little girl.

There are quite a few stories happening in this novel. But, I enjoyed Ruby and Carlie the best. Basically because Carlie is so dang cute. Sometimes it is difficult to get the children right in a novel. But Sharon Sala did an excellent job.

I fluctuated between 3 and 4 stars on this one. Basically because it is almost too sweet for me and it is very predictable. But, I gave it 4 stars because it did keep me reading and I enjoyed the characters. Sometimes you just need a sweet story in your life!

This novel is part of a series. I have only read one in this series and it was ages ago. I did not feel lost or anything. So, you can read this as a stand alone.

Need a sweet read…this is it! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase here

Bookbub

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews @stmartinspress @mkayandrews #bookreview #5starread #smpinfluencer

Overview

Summer begins with Mary Kay Andrews, in this delightful summer read about flipping houses, and finding true love.

Hattie Kavanaugh went to work restoring homes for Kavanaugh & Son Restorations at eighteen, married the boss’s son at twenty, and became a widow at twenty-five. Now, she’s passionate about her work, but that’s the only passion in her life. “Never love something that can’t love you back,” is advice her father-in-law gives her, but Hattie doesn’t follow it and falls head-over-heels for a money pit of a house. She’s determined to make it work, but disaster after disaster occurs, and Hattie’s dream might cost Kavanaugh & Son their livelihood. Hattie needs money, and fast.

When a slick Hollywood producer shows up in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: star in a beach house renovation reality show called The Homewreckers, cast against a male lead who may be a love interest, or may be the ultimate antagonist. Soon, there’s more at stake than bad pipes and dry rot: during the demolition, evidence comes to light that points to the mysterious disappearance of a young wife and mother years before.

With a burned out detective investigating the case, an arsonist on the loose, two men playing with her emotions, and layers upon layers of vintage wallpaper causing havoc, it’s a question of who will flip, who will flop, and if Hattie will ever get her happily-ever-after.

Review

Hattie restores old homes in the Savannah, GA area. She failed miserably on her last one. She is determined to make a huge go with the next. Because of her loss on her last home, she is about broke. So, she agrees to a reality tv show about fixing up homes. This should help her overcome some losses. But, things do not go as planned. A wallet is found. It turns out to be the wallet of a young wife and mother who disappeared years ago. This could derail the whole project.

I am a HUGE MKA fan! And so, as you guessed…I LOVE THIS BOOK! It has bit of everything..romance, humor, great setting, sabotage and murder…yep…murder. No one does a better escape read than MKA!

The characters are fabulous. I adore Hattie! She makes mistakes and she goes a bit overboard to fix them. She gives it her all, even when she is backed against a wall…literally!

Add in the setting of Tybee..y’all…I love Tybee. I so want to go back. I could just picture the house and the river.

Need a good read to just escape…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

Purchase Here

Bookbub

Barnes and Noble

Anazon

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Tiger and Phil by Bob Harig @macmillanaudio @stmartinspress #smpinfluencer #bookreview #biography

Overview

Bob Harig’s Tiger & Phil provides an in-depth chronicle of the decades-long rivalry that drove the success of golf’s two biggest stars, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

For more than two decades, there have been two golfers who have captivated, bemused, inspired, frustrated, fascinated, and entertained us, and in doing so have demanded our attention – Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Even with all the ink that has been spilled on Tiger, no one has ever written about his relationship with Phil and how their careers have been inextricably intertwined. Furthermore, very little has been written about Phil Mickelson, who is more than just an adversary. He is a fascinating Hall of Fame golfer in his own right.

These two biggest names (and draws) in golf have, for better and for worse, been the ultimate rivals. But it is so much more complicated than that. Each player has pushed the other to be better. They have teased each other and fought. They have battled to the bitter end on the course making for some of the greatest moments in the game for the last 20 years. They have each gone through injury and health problems, legal problems, falling in and out of favor with the press. And over the course of their time together in the game they have gradually become not just rivals but friends.

In the tradition of major bestsellers such as Arnie & Jack, When the Game Was Ours, The Rivals, and Brady vs. Manning, Tiger & Phil will change the way we look at these players and the game itself.

Review

I am not a golfer, my husband is though. I have spent a good amount of time watching golf tournaments with him(even one while in labor!). So, I have followed Tiger and Phil through a good bit of their careers. I recommend you have some knowledge of golf before you pick this book up. If not, you may be lost in a lot of places.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very well researched and very informative. This covers almost all of these two golfers’ careers and many of their interactions and various situations.

Now, I am team Phil. I always have been. So, take this with a grain of salt. I felt like there was a bit of favoritism toward Tiger in this. I thought it most of the way through the book. But, I thought…let me wait to form an opinion when the author gets to Tiger’s scandal about his marriage. Very little was said about the incident but Harig devoted paragraph after paragraph to Phil’s scandal about insider trading. Now, give the devil his due, there may have been a lot more information available about Phil’s incident. But, it did solidify my opinion in the matter.

Adam Barr narrated this book and did a superb job. He is steady and very smooth!

Need a good sports biography about two fantastic, talented golfers…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today

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

Purchase Here

Chirp

Barnes and Noble

Bookbub

Audible

Amazon

Side note…

This is how close I got to Phil at the FedEx tournament in Memphis last year! Like I said…team Phil!

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

April Escapes and Escapades #aprilwrapup #escapesandescapades #wrapup

Well! April was my birthday month…and NO! I will not tell you my age! My husband took me out to eat and to visit my favorite book store! And there were lots of drinks to be had! And, of course, books to buy.

I also was asked by CVS to head down to Greenville, MS and do Covid testing for the Vice President’s visit to Mississippi. Y’all, that was fun and such a learning experience. No, I did not get to even see her. But, I tested her staff and her Secret Service detail! And this is not a political post…this is a work post. So, no politics please!

Now, on to the…

Sister Stardust
Summer on the Island
Summer at the Cape
Before He Kills Again
The Echoes
The Mayfair Bookshop
The Resting Place
Mrs. England
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier
The Children on the Hill
The Wrong Victim
Their Alaskan Past

I also finished these…so stay tuned

What did you read and enjoy in April? Inquiring minds want to know!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Posted in escapes and escapades, Wrap Up | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Their Alaskan Past by Belle Calhoune #loveinspired #bookreview @harlequinbooks

Overview

Could their unexpected reunion lead to a second chance?

She broke his heart years ago

But now she needs his help

Veterinarian Maya Roberts has complicated feelings about her ex—Iditarod racer Ace Reynolds—returning to Owl Creek, Alaska. But he’s the perfect person to help with her dog rescue. Now they’re working together, caught by their tangled past and still-unresolved feelings for each other. But a second chance with Ace isn’t just about forgiveness. It means sharing the secret that’s kept them apart…

Review

Maya Roberts is a veterinarian trying to get an animal rescue off the ground. When her ex-boyfriend shows up, she offers him the job. But, can Ace get over their past? Can everyone get over all the secrets?

This is a fast paced, short romance with a wonderful setting. Now, it is a bit “too sweet” and a bit predictable. But I did get lost in this tale and I finished it in one sitting. So, it is perfect for a short flight or car ride.

I adored the characters, especially Ace. He is struggling to find his way. Add in the wonderful Alaska setting and these great animals and I was hooked!

Need a sweet, quick read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Bookbub

Amazon

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Wrong Victim by Allison Brennan @harlequinbooks #suspense #bookreview

The Wrong Victim : A Novel

Allison Brennan

On Sale Date: April 26, 2022

9780778312307

Hardcover

$26.99 USD

464 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A bomb explodes on a sunset charter cruise out of Friday Harbor at the height of tourist season and kills everyone on board. Now this fishing and boating community is in shock and asking who would commit such a heinous crime—the largest act of mass murder in the history of the San Juan Islands.

Was the explosion an act of domestic terrorism, or was one of the dead the primary target? That is the first question Special Agent Matt Costa, Detective Kara Quinn, and the rest of the FBI team need to answer, but they have few clues and no witnesses.

Accused of putting profits before people after leaking fuel endangered an environmentally sensitive preserve, the West End Charter company may itself have been the target. As Matt and his team get closer to answers, they find one of their own caught in the crosshairs of a determined killer.

Review

A bomb has exploded and killed quite a few people. Special Agent Matt Costa and Detective Kara Quinn have their hands full. There are several possibilities and the further they get into the investigation the more convoluted the investigation becomes.

I usually enjoy this author’s books. But this one was a little bit more detailed than I was used to. It is well researched but it just got bogged down in some police procedures that I did not enjoy. But, I love Matt and Kara. They balance each other out. Add in the search for the killer…and it’s a pretty good tale!

Need a good police procedure book.…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this copy from the publisher for an honest review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ALLISON BRENNAN is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over thirty novels. She has been nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers and the Daphne du Maurier Award. A former consultant in the California State Legislature, Allison lives in Arizona with her husband, five kids and assorted pets.

Social Links:

Author website: https://www.allisonbrennan.com/

Facebook: @AllisonBrennan

Twitter: @Allison_Brennan

Instagram: @abwrites

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52527.Allison_Brennan

Buy Links:

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-wrong-victim/9780778312307 

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780778312307 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wrong-victim-allison-brennan/1139717188?ean=9780778312307 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0778312305/httpwwwalli0f-20 

Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/product/9780778312307 

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B096FYD1S5/httpwwwalli0f-20 

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wrong-victim-allison-brennan/1139717188?ean=9780369717795 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-wrong-victim-1 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Allison_Brennan_The_Wrong_Victim?id=60kxEAAAQBAJ 

Ibooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wrong-victim/id1570424193

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment