She has one last chance to prove she chose the right course for her life.
In 1908, young Dorothy Tuckerman chafes under the bland, beige traditions of her socialite circles. Only the aristocracy’s annual summer trips to The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia spark her imagination. In this naturally beautiful place, an unexpected romance with an Italian racecar driver gives Dorothy a taste of the passion and adventure she wants. But her family intervenes, sentencing Dorothy to the life she hopes to escape.
Thirty-eight years later, as World War II draws to a close, Dorothy has done everything a woman in the early twentieth century should not: she has divorced her husband—scandalous—and established America’s first interior design firm—shocking. Now, Dorothy returns to The Greenbrier with the assignment to restore it to something even greater than its original glory. With her beloved company’s future hanging in the balance and brimming with daring, unconventional ideas, Dorothy has one more chance to give her dreams wings or succumb to her what society tells her is her inescapable fate.
Based on the true story of famed designer Dorothy Draper, The Grand Design is a moving tale of one woman’s quest to transform the walls that hold her captive.
Review
Dorothy is a rebel! She has divorced her husband and has started the first ever design firm in America. Dorothy has now been tasked to restore some of the elegance to her old stomping ground, The Greenbrier. And she must do her best work. Her design firm is on the rocks and she needs this job to keep her and her employees afloat.
I love a novel based on a true story and Dorothy is an amazing woman. But, I felt like something was missing in the story. It is very well researched, however, it is just a bit slow and maybe a bit redundant in places. But, I am so glad I read it. I love to learn about women who decide not to follow the conventional and Dorothy definitely did life her way. She is smart and hardworking and she changed her stars!
Need a good historical fiction novel with a strong woman you probably never heard of…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Indie Next Pick “A smart and lively novel.” –Jess Walter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins “Austenesque…this goes down as easily as an Aperol spritz.” –Publishers Weekly
Meet the Geller sisters: Beck, Claire, and Sophie, a trio of strong-minded women whose pragmatic, widowed mother, Marti, will be dying soon and taking her secrets with her. Marti has ensured that her modest estate is easy for her family to deal with once she’s gone––including a provision that the family’s summer cottage on Mount Desert Island, Maine, must be sold, the proceeds split equally between the three girls.
Beck, the eldest, is a freelance journalist whose marriage looks more like a sibling bond than a passionate partnership. In fact, her husband Paul is hiding a troubling truth about his love life. For Beck, the Maine cottage has been essential to her secret wish to write a novel––and to remake the terms of her relationship.
Despite her accomplishments as a pediatric cardiologist, Claire, the middle daughter, has always felt like the Geller misfit. Recently divorced, Claire’s secret unrequited love for the wrong man is slowly destroying her, and she’s finding that her expertise on matters of the heart unfortunately doesn’t extend to her own.
Youngest daughter Sophie appears to live an Instagram-ready life, filled with glamorous work and travel, celebrities, fashion, art, and sex. In reality, her existence is a cash-strapped house of cards that may crash at any moment.
Enter C.J. Reynolds, an enigmatic southerner ex-con with his own hidden past who complicates the situation. All is not what it seems, and everything is about to change.
Review
The Geller sisters have been called together because of their mother’s death. Marti left a will and a video with a revelation for her girls. Can these girls overcome what life has to throw at them? These three sisters are so different. First is Beck. Beck is a journalist, want to be novelist. Her marriage is on the rocks but she is unsure how to fix it. Next we have Claire. She is a pediatric cardiologist and she has an unrequited love interest. Finally we have Sophie. Sophie is the “fly by the seat of her pants girl”.
Nothing like family to make you want to pull your hair out! I love these three sisters and their relationship. They are not afraid to tell each other what they think. But, when the time comes…they have each other’s backs and they learn to forgive and accept.
This story really had me all over the place. I really loved each and every character, even if I wanted to jerk one or two baldheaded because of a bad decision. And believe me…quite a few bad decisions were made by each! Add in the setting of Maine, and I was hooked! I really can see this being a binge series on Hulu or Netflix.
The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, is wonderful, especially on all the different voices.
Need a good, true to life family novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Kari Bell is a hard core loner. Her debilitating panic attacks have her dependent on potions, salves and thunder shirts for humans. She is summoned to a childhood home to bury her father and conceal her mother’s bloody secret. After that trauma, she buys a rundown ranch house surrounded by pasture and woodland at the end of an isolated rural road. Her two corgis and a Siamese cat are her world. In a single nightly dog walk, her fragile state of calm is gutted.
Set in an historic gossipy town whose glory days are behind it, Kari Bell’s homestead is on land that was once part of a grand plantation. Reggie Raintree, the last Raintree Plantation heir, has returned on a mission to locate and excavate ancient gold hidden somewhere on his family’s remaining acreage. All maps, however, appear to point to Kari’s little plot. Raintree wants it back.
In search of a mate, he posts an ad on a foreign bride website with the headline, “Looking for Love and Treasure.” He includes photos of an intriguing gold coin, but it’s not just any coin. It’s a coin so rare collectors call it, The Lost Love Coin. If authentic, its value is incalculable. Raintree and his Russian bride will stop at nothing to force Kari out. They bribe local officials, unleash mad dogs and cats to stalk her, steal her beloved Corgi and take her to court.
Kari must shed her loner skin, sleep with a gun next to her serenity candle and fight for what feels like home for the first time in her life all while looking for The Lost Love Coin.
In this woman’s story with a suspenseful backbone the twists are only matched by the secrets they reveal.
Review
Kari has purchased a home next to an old plantation. She has set up her home business and she and her dogs are just living their life. Until, her home and her life are threatened. Reggie Raintree has moved back into his old property of the Raintree plantation. He has no intention of letting Kari or anyone else stay anywhere near his property. He is going to make sure Kari leaves and never returns.
This story starts strong! And I thought, what have I gotten myself into. I had to put it down for just a minute to breathe in that first chapter. But, I soon became captivated by this unusual tale. Now, I am not going to lie. There were times, especially when an animal was involved, that I thought…I can’t do this. There was just something about this story, I could not stop. I had to find out what was going on!
Kari is a character which is an introvert but she has a kick. She did make some “out of character” decisions. But, she is someone I enjoyed and rooted for. I wanted her to kick some butt and win this war!
Need a good novel which will have you wanting to know the truth…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
About The Author:
Susan Dennis lives in North Carolina and runs a management consultancy supporting public health research. In 2021, she published a memoir about her life and marriage to the photographer Charles Dennis titled, The Swing – A Muse’s Memoir About Keeping The Artist Alive. Her first novel, The Secret Field, is available April 1 2022. Further information about her books and Charles’ legacy can be found at www.susandennisauthor.com.
Three plucky women lift the spirits of home-front brides in wartime Britain, where clothes rationing leaves little opportunity for pomp or celebration—even at weddings—in this heartwarming novel based on true events, from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.
After renowned fashion designer Cressida Westcott loses both her home and her design house in the London Blitz, she has nowhere to go but the family manor house she fled decades ago. Praying that her niece and nephew will be more hospitable than her brother had been, she arrives with nothing but the clothes she stands in, at a loss as to how to rebuild her business while staying in a quaint country village.
Her niece, Violet Westcott, is thrilled that her famous aunt is coming to stay—the village has been interminably dull with all the men off fighting. But just as Cressida arrives, so does Violet’s conscription letter. It couldn’t have come at a worse time; how will she ever find a suitably aristocratic husband if she has to spend her days wearing a frumpy uniform and doing war work?
Meanwhile, the local vicar’s daughter, Grace Carlisle, is trying in vain to repair her mother’s gown, her only chance of a white wedding. When Cressida Westcott appears at the local Sewing Circle meeting, Grace asks for her help—but Cressida has much more to teach the ladies than just simple sewing skills.
Before long, Cressida’s spirit and ambition galvanizes the village group into action, and they find themselves mending wedding dresses not only for local brides, but for brides across the country. And as the women dedicate themselves to helping others celebrate love, they might even manage to find it for themselves.
Review
This novel follows these three women, Grace, Violet and Cressida. Cressida is a dress designer. Her shop and her apartment were completely desiccated in a bomb. So, she has to bite the bullet and head to her brother’s estate. She has not seen her brother or his family in years. He did not approve of her life choices. So, when she arrives, she meets her niece and nephew for the first time in their adult life.
Cressida’s niece, Violet, is very sheltered and has no idea about the real world. Then there is Grace. Grace is the local vicar’s daughter. She is struggling to be exactly what everyone expects her to be. With the onset of the war, all three have extreme changes in life and their plans for the future.
Now, at the beginning of this book, I was not a big fan of any of these characters. But, they began to grow on me and I found all three amazing in the end! I especially love Cressida.
This story is a great tale about resilience, strength and hope. I enjoyed everything about this novel! I especially love how all three of these characters come into their own.
Need a great WWII novel with strong women characters…THIS IS IT!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
James Byrne’s The Gatekeeper introduces Dez Limerick in the most anticipated new thriller in years.
A highly trained team of mercenaries launches a well-planned, coordinated attack on a well-guarded military contractor – but they didn’t count on one thing, the right man being in the wrong place at the right time.
Desmond Aloysius Limerick (“Dez” to all) is a retired mercenary, and enthusiastic amateur musician, currently in Southern California, enjoying the sun and sitting in on the occasional gig, when the hotel he’s at falls under attack. A skilled team attempts to kidnap the Chief legal counsel of Triton Expeditors, a major military contractor – in fact, Petra Alexandris is the daughter of the CEO – but their meticulously-planned, seamlessly executed scheme runs into the figurative ‘spanner-in-the-works,’ Dez himself.
After foiling the attack, and with nothing better to do, Dez agrees to help Alexandris with another problem she’s having – someone has embezzled more than a billion dollars from her company and left very few tracks behind. But Dez is a gatekeeper – one who opens doors and keeps them open – and this is just a door of another kind. And the door he opens leads to a dangerous conspiracy involving media manipulation, militias, an armed coup, and an attempt to fracture the United States themselves. There’s only one obstacle between the conspirators and success – and that is Dez, The Gatekeeper.
Review
Dez is retired military, mercenary or something. He foils an attempt to kidnap the daughter of Triton Expeditor’s CEO. He agrees to help find the fault in the security detail surrounding Alexandris. The more he digs, the more he discovers…not all is as it seems at Triton.
Well! I have a new book boyfriend! I love Dez! He is a little bit of everything. But, I absolutely love his wit! He cracked me up quite a few times during this book! Now, the story itself is a bit far fetched…or maybe it’s not…in this political climate…I guess it could very well happen.
This novel is action packed! I did figure out quite a few parts of the plot and so I knew what was coming next in some of the scenes. But, I enjoyed this story from start to finish. I have to say…pretty dang good thriller
John Keating is the narrator and he is SPOT ON!
Need a good thriller with the fantastic Dez…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
For fans of The Warsaw Orphan and The Tattooist of Auschwitz: the start of WWII changed everything in Poland irrevocably—except for one man’s capacity to love.
September 1, 1939. Sixty-year-old Janusz Korczak and the students and teachers at his Dom Sierot Jewish orphanage are outside enjoying a beautiful day in Warsaw. Hours later, their lives are altered forever when the Nazis invade. Suddenly treated as an outcast in his own city, Janusz—a respected leader known for his heroism and teaching—is determined to do whatever it takes to protect the children from the horrors to come.
When over four hundred thousand Jewish people are rounded up and forced to live in the 1.3-square-mile walled compound of the Warsaw ghetto, Janusz and his friends take drastic measures to shield the children from disease and starvation. With dignity and courage, the teachers and students of Dom Sierot create their own tiny army of love and bravely prepare to march toward the future—whatever it may hold.
Unforgettable, devastating, and inspired by a real-life hero of the Holocaust, The Teacher of Warsaw reminds the world that one single person can incite meaning, hope, and love.
Praise for The Teacher of Warsaw:
“Through meticulous research and with wisdom and care, Mario Escobar brings to life a heartbreaking story of love and extraordinary courage. I want everyone I know to read this book.”—Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan
“A beautifully written, deeply emotional story of hope, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable horrors. That such self-sacrifice, dedication and goodness existed restores faith in humankind. Escobar’s heart-rending yet uplifting tale is made all the more poignant by its authenticity. Bravo!” —Tea Cooper, award-winning and bestselling author of The Cartographer’s Secret.
Review
The Nazis have moved all the Polish Jews to the ghetto, including all the children in Janusz Korczak’s orphanage. Everyone’s life has changed. There is little or no food. Every day is a struggle to survive.
Janusz Korczak battles day in and day out to find enough food, medicine and clothing for all the children in his care. The atrocities of the Nazis and the deaths he witnesses every day are almost too much to handle. But, he never gives up!
This is a story which will break your heart. But, it is also a story which will show you about the love, hope and strength one person can have on others. Dr. Korczak saved so many but he could not save everyone. But, he is determined. This is a novel I will not soon forget. It is so beautifully written and well researched. I love that it is based on a real life hero.
Need a fantastic historical fiction you will be thinking about for days after…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
The year 1900 ushers in a new century and the promise of social change, and women rise together toward equality. Yet rules and restrictions remain, especially for women like Alice Butterworth, whose husband has abruptly disappeared. Desperate to make a living for herself and the child she carries, Alice leaves Chicago far behind, offering sewing lessons at a New Orleans orphanage.
Constance Halstead, a young widow, has thrown herself into charitable work. Meeting Alice at the orphanage, she offers lodging in exchange for Alice’s help creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les Mystérieuses, the first all-female krewe of Mardi Gras. During Leap Years, women have the rare opportunity to take control in their interactions with men, and upend social convention. Piece by piece, the breathtaking gown takes shape, becoming a symbol of strength for both women.
But Constance carries a burden that makes it impossible to feel truly free. Her husband, Benton, whose death remains a dangerous mystery, was deep in debt to the Black Hand, the vicious gangsters who controlled New Orleans’s notorious Storyville district. Benton’s death has not satisfied them. And as the Mardi Gras festivities reach their fruition, a secret emerges that will cement the bond between Alice and Constance even as it threatens the lives they’re building . . .
Review
Alice’s husband has disappeared. She is in dire straits. She is pregnant and has no source of income. She ends up traveling to New Orleans because of an overheard conversation about a needed seamstress. She takes a leap of faith and ends up in the home of Constance Halstead. But, everything is not as it seems and Alice may be taking a huge risk.
Jessica Marchbank is the narrator of this audiobook. And to be honest, I am not sure if she is the reason I gave this novel a 3 star rating or if it was the story itself. I found this narrator a bit too dramatic and too soft in her tone. Usually narrators do not bother me much. But, she just did not sit well with me.
The story itself is pretty good. It is a bit far fetched in the outcome. And I found it a bit contrived. But, I did enjoy the time period and the setting of New Orleans in the early 1900s.
Need a good historical fiction with some strong women characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
With her unique brand of witty, emotional storytelling, Susan Mallery’s latest is a heartfelt tale of friendship between three women brought together by chance who open a bookshop together on the boardwalk of the California beaches and ultimately become one another’s family. Fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Robyn Carr and Susan Wiggs will love The Boardwalk Bookshop!
Brought together by chance, Bree, Mikki, and Ashley become fast friends and open up a beachfront bookshop together, bringing together their three different businesses. To celebrate, each Friday at sunset they pop open champagne on the beach and enjoy the sunset together. Little did they know that that chance meeting and this simple ritual would make them one another’s family.
Bree owns the bookshop. Funny that she can’t stand authors. They’re far too demanding. But when NYT bestselling author Harding Burton, the memoirist who wrote about being paralyzed as a teenager and how he fought his way back, comes in, Bree never expected to actually like him. But anything beyond casual sex is out of the question for her. She trusts no one—a brutal first marriage and a painful childhood taught her well. Still as much as she wants to walk away, she can’t quite do it…
Ashley, Harding’s brother, owns the muffin shop and she has her own problems. She’s been happily in love with her boyfriend, Seth, for eight years. He’s thoughtful, supportive, kind, generous…but he hasn’t proposed and, she can’t hold it in any longer. When he announces that marriage isn’t for him, she’s shocked. And as much as she wishes this was enough, the truth is that she wants to be married. But what now?
And Mikki, the gift shop owner, is getting a second chance. She married her high school sweetheart, but three kids and completely different interests made them drift apart until they divorced a few years ago. They’re still close for the kids, but when someone new enters her life, he makes her feel appreciated and alive. Suddenly Mikki’s ex is making her dinner and asking her advice and Mikki must choose between the man she loved and let go of—and a chance for a brand new beginning.
Review
Mikki, Ashley and Bree decide to go in together to share the rent on a beachfront property. They become fast friends. Bree is the bookshop owner and has no intention of having a relationship with anyone. Ashley owns the bakery and she has a boyfriend which she loves dearly, but does he love her. Mikki owns the gift shop. She has been divorced and has decided to start dating again. But, as you can guess, complications arise.
These characters stay with you a while. I loved each and everyone of them. I love how they grow in their relationship with each other as the story moves along. Throw in romance issues and you have a dang good read! I mean…you have books, beach, cute guys, and champagne…what’s not to love!
Need just an all around good read for the beach…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two Ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom.
Tommy Colt is stunned when his childhood best friend—and love—Bella Worthington abruptly announces she’s engaged to their old-time nemesis! Knowing her better than anyone, Tommy’s convinced she’d only agree to a sham marriage if something was dangerously wrong. Now Colt Brothers Investigations’ newest partner is racing to uncover the truth and ask Bella a certain question…if they survive.
Review
Bella is getting married…but not because she wants to or because she is in love. No, she is being forced to marry someone she despises. Can Tommy save her before it is too late?!
I am starting to enjoy these books I can read in one sitting. I read this on the way back from St. Louis and it was a perfect book for that trip. It is fast-paced and definitely intriguing. Now, it is a bit overly dramatic and contrived in places. But I fell for Tommy in the first book. And he did not disappoint in this one!
Need a quick romance with some great manipulation going on…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Author Bio
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author B.J. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two springer spaniels. When not writing, she quilts, boats and plays tennis. Contact her at www.bjdaniels.com, on Facebook at B.J. Daniels or through her reader group the B.J. Daniels’ Big Sky Darlings, and on twitter at @bjdanielsauthor.
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