reecaspieces

Overview

Sometimes life’s most magical journeys bring you back to where it all began…From USA Today bestselling author Emily March comes The Christmas Wishing Tree, an enchanting account of the magic and miracle of Christmas.

A man who loves adventure and the open sea, Devin Murphy returns for a short Christmas trip to his small hometown of Eternity Springs. Immersed in the joy and magic of the holiday season all around him, he doesn’t hesitate to play along when a young boy phones Santa to ask for a very special wish. Devin never guesses that a wrong number has the potential to make everything in his life so right.

Jenna Stockton adopted Reilly when he needed a mother and she intends to keep him safe. A small town across the country called Eternity Springs seems like a good place to hide from their past without any complications –until sexy Santa himself discovers her secrets. When Devin proposes a daring plan to face down the danger together and defeat it once and for all, she is tempted. Maybe Devin really is capable of making wishes come true? Perhaps in a Christmas wish they’ll both find the miracle they’ve been looking for all along…

A delightful Christmas novel in the New York Times bestselling Eternity Springs series.

Review

Devin Murphy is home for the holidays. He receives a phone call from a small boy named Reilly. Reilly thinks he is talking to Santa. And he wants Santa to bring him a Daddy! Devin continues to talk to Reilly off and on for a long while. This leads to an adventure for Reilly and Jenna. See, Jenna has a stalker and she is terrified. No way is she allowing someone to hurt her son. She buys and camper and starts traveling around the United States. Well, she ends up in Eternity Springs.

I adore these characters. Jenna is just a good, hardworking girl determined not to let anything happen to her son. Devin is a kind soul. I fell in love with Devin the moment he pretended to be Santa. These two characters are perfect for each other. And when Jenna is threatened, the whole town of Eternity Springs comes to her rescue.

I have just recently discovered Emily March. She writes the sweetest, most heartwarming reads. This one needs to be a Hallmark Christmas movie! Great setting, great story, and fabulous characters, what is not to like!

I received this novel from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for a honest review.

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Overview

Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.

Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences, but those around you, as well.

New Oldbury, 1821

In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall.

The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.

All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…

“Hester Fox’s THE WITCH OF WILLOW HALL offers a fascinating location, a great plot with history and twists, and characters that live and breathe. I love the novel, and will be looking forward to all new works by this talented author!” –Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author

“Beautifully written, skillfully plotted, and filled with quiet terror, readers will devour this absorbing, Gothic tale of romance and suspense. Perfect for fans of Simone St James and Kate Morton.” — Anna Lee Huber, the national bestselling author of the historical Lady Darby Mysteries

“Beautifully written, with an intriguing plot full of suspense and mystery, The Witch of Willow Hall will cast a spell over every reader.” — Lisa Hall, author of Tell Me No Lies and Between You and Me

“I was entranced by this intriguing and spellbinding novel with its messages of love and loyalty and being true to who you really are. I hope Hester Fox goes on to write many more such novels–I for one will be buying them.” — Kathleen McGurl, author of The Girl from Ballymor

“With its sense of creeping menace and chilling undertones, this compelling story had me gripped from the first page. The vividly drawn characters cast their spell so convincingly, I couldn’t stop reading until I discovered what happened to them. A wonderful debut novel.”–Linda Finlay, author of The Flower Seller.

Review

Catherine, Lydia and Emeline are the three Montrose sisters. Catherine carries a huge secret. And Lydia and Emeline have a strange bond, a beyond sisters bond. They can make things happen, especially when they are angry. The Montrose family is run out of Boston because of a terrible scandal. They move into their summer home in New Oldbury called Willow Hall. It is an odd place. Strange sounds and noises create a creepy place for the family home.

“What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive”. This was the first quote that came to mind as I was reading this novel. Everyone is keeping secrets, Catherine, her mother and their dad’s business partner, John. Catherine causes all of the problems this family is having. The author keeps her secret hidden for a good while. And when it is revealed….it is cringeworthy! John has many secrets surrounding his past, a family tragedy which is not as it seems. Then there is the mother. She knows all about Emeline and Lydia and she is not sharing!

This story is not as witchy as it is made out to be. It has a good many ghosts though and I adore a good ghost story. It is beautifully written with a thousand twists and turns. This story is perfect for a cold night in front of a fire!

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Overview

Who needs mistletoe?

Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that — but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once…

Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas.

Review

Molly works for her brother at his investigation firm. She really wants to move out from behind the office manager desk and become an investigator. Her brother is having none of that! When her neighbors ask her to help find out about Bad Santa, she jumps at the opportunity. The drama ensues! With shoot’em up and mafia hits, Molly may need backup! Enter LUCAS!

This is only the second book by Jill Shalvis I have read. I have no idea why I am late to the party! But, I must catch up soon! I just love her wit! Her one-liners have me in stitches. And her characters are the best ever. No whining in this bunch (I hate it when characters whine!) Lucas is HOT, FINE and downright SEXY AS ALL GETOUT! Molly is not a slouch either. She can hold her own…and she does! These two take a little bit to realize they are perfect for each other. And when they do…it is all over but the marriage!

There is really nothing new about this romance. Two people don’t want to fall in love, chemistry is there, they fight it, they discover it, they nurture it. Pretty much sums it up. But, it is Jill’s writing which make it good! Her wit and charm of her characters will keep me coming back for more!

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

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Overview

At this, the Cailleach would release a single drop of indigo dye onto the topmost layer. See, she would tell her daughter. See? It bleeds through the topmost path and onto the next. In this way, so many things from the next world touch ours, and our world touches the layer beneath.

High above the sea, hidden in the rocky Scottish cliffs, something stirs. An ancient matriarchial power has set the wheels in motion for a long line of descendants. But to what end?

Spanning centuries of human history, these daughters of the lowland hag, the Cailleach, must navigate a world filled with superstition, hatred, violence, pestilence, and death to find their purpose. With pasts half remembered and destinies denied, the daughters of Cailleach are women with uncanny, and often feared, abilities to heal, to see the future and to cause great destruction and pain when threatened. With each passing generation, the waves crash against the shore, and the Cailleach awaits a homecoming that will bring everything full circle.

Review

Alice can see things. She knows what is going to happen in someone’s life. She does not realize she is a daughter of the Cailleach or the hag. No one has taught her or made her understand her destiny.

Alice struggles through most of this story. Deep down she knows she is different but she does not quite understand what or how. She sees the future when she looks closely at someone. This leads her to a path of destruction many times, but she manages to pull herself away. She is much stronger than she thinks.

The author’s prose is wonderful. The story is extremely unique, however it is a little disjointed. Maybe if it was prefaced before each chapter which generation the chapter was about, it would have made it flow better. I did enjoy reading about the different generations with this strange “talent”. It would just take me a few paragraphs to figure out what exactly was going on. I was reading and ARC. So maybe this was corrected in the final copy.

All in all, the author’s writing in suburb. I would love to read more books by her.

I received this novel from Edelweiss for a honest review.

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Overview

Manhattan, 1850. Born out of wedlock to a wealthy socialite and a nameless immigrant, Cora Lee can mingle with the rich just as easily as she can slip unnoticed into the slums and graveyards of the city. As the only female resurrectionist in New York, she’s carved out a niche procuring bodies afflicted with the strangest of anomalies. Anatomists will pay exorbitant sums for such specimens—dissecting and displaying them for the eager public.

Cora’s specialty is not only profitable, it’s a means to keep a finger on the pulse of those searching for her. She’s the girl born with two hearts—a legend among grave robbers and anatomists—sought after as an endangered prize.

Now, as a series of murders unfolds closer and closer to Cora, she can no longer trust those she holds dear, including the young medical student she’s fallen for. Because someone has no intention of waiting for Cora to die a natural death.

Review

Cora is an amazingly smart woman. She not only is shrewd but also tough as nails. She even dresses as her “twin brother” to make life easier for her. She is a resurrectionist. What is that? She is someone who procures freshly dead bodies out of the cemeteries for dissection for medical schools and cabinets of curiosities. Cora also has an anomaly. She has two hearts. This puts a price on her head. $500 for the girl with two hearts!

Cora is a complex character. She dresses as a man and maneuvers around the underworld. She can definitely hold her own in a fight! I admire this about her…but I also admire her intelligence and wit. These “smarts” keep her alive.

There is so much I want to say about this book. I am still thinking about it. You talk about action packed! This story is so creative and unique. It is fast paced and full of science and medicine. That is right up my alley. Add the historical aspect and you have a fantastic read. Superbly done! Grab this one today!

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Overview

“Pulls you into the depths of a secret world from the first page. Ian Smith’s novel is unmissable.” —Harlan Coben, author of Missing You

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Fall 1988

Spenser Collins

An unlikely Harvard prospect, smart and athletic, strapped for cash, determined to succeed. Calls his mother—who raised him on her own in Chicago—every week.

Dalton Winthrop

A white-shoe legacy at Harvard, he’s just the most recent in a string of moneyed, privileged Winthrop men in Cambridge. He’s got the ease—and the deep knowledge—that come from belonging.

These two find enough common ground to become friends, cementing their bond when Spenser is “punched” to join the Delphic Club, one of the most exclusive of Harvard’s famous all-male final clubs. Founded in the nineteenth century, the Delphic has had titans of industry, Hollywood legends, heads of state, and power brokers among its members.

Dalton Winthrop knows firsthand that the Delphic doesn’t offer memberships to just anyone. His great-uncle is one of their oldest living members, and Dalton grew up on stories of the club’s rituals. But why is his uncle so cryptic about the Ancient Nine, a shadowy group of alums whose identities are unknown and whose power is absolute? They protect the Delphic’s darkest and oldest secrets—including what happened to a student who sneaked into the club’s stately brick mansion in 1927 and was never seen again.

Dalton steers Spenser into deeper and deeper recesses of the club, and beyond, to try to make sense of what they think they may be seeing. But with each scrap of information they get from an octogenarian Crimson graduate, a crumbling newspaper in the library’s archives, or one of Harvard’s most famous and heavily guarded historical books, a fresh complication trips them up. The more the friends investigate, the more questions they unearth, tangling the story of the club, the disappearance, and the Ancient Nine, until they realize their own lives are in danger.

Review

Spenser is a struggling student at Harvard. He is always low on money and does not come from the right background. He is from the south side of Chicago. So, fitting in with all the rich, preppy boys at Harvard is not so easy. When he receives an invitation to one of the exclusive clubs which Harvard is famous for, this adds a whole new element of complication to his college life.

Spenser does not understand how he can be selected for one of the secret clubs at Harvard. He does not fit the bill! Luckily his friend, Dalton is there to help. When these two discover the story about a death of a student years ago, it leads them into a tangled mess of a mystery which could get them killed.

Spenser is a great character. He is hardworking and determined. Then there is Dalton. He is the opposite of Spenser. These two together create a good team. I love their chemistry and Dalton’s no nonsense attitude really balances the two.

I adore the setting of this novel. The rich history of Harvard is the perfect backdrop for this story. And believe me, the author knew how to weave a great tale around all this history. With the Delphic (the secret society), The Ancient Nine ( a secret within the secret society), the old house with secret rooms, how could the reader not be captivated. This tale just seems to drag a little. It has the rich history and the secrets but not a lot of action to keep the story moving.

I received this novel from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for a honest review.

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Overview

When Joe Lynch stumbles across his wife driving into a hotel car park while she’s supposed to be at work, he’s intrigued enough to follow her in.

And when he witnesses her in an angry altercation with family friend Ben, he knows he ought to intervene.

But just as the confrontation between the two men turns violent, and Ben is knocked unconscious, Joe’s young son has an asthma attack – and Joe must flee in order to help him.

When he returns, desperate to make sure Ben is OK, Joe is horrified to find that Ben has disappeared.

And that’s when Joe receives the first message . . .

Review

Joe is in a mess. Someone is sabotaging his whole life. Job, family, everything is going down the drain. He cannot figure out why!

This book starts off with a bang. There are actual places in this story I said, out loud, “OH SH*#!”

I enjoyed the anticipation this novel creates. However, the story bogs down in the middle. It is the continuation of all of the tragedies happening to Joe. It just keeps on and on.

The characters are a little lacking in this read. Joe is a little bit of a wimp in my book. I expected more out of him. I wanted him to be more angry, with more fight to keep what he has earned. He just didn’t have it in him. And then there is his wife! She is a piece of work! I wanted to beat her within an inch of her life.

But any book which creates this kind of reaction to the characters can’t be all bad. And it is not! it is a lightening fast read with plenty of gasp worthy action.

I received this novel from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for a honest review.

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Overview

Amsterdam, May 1943. As the tulips bloom and the Nazis tighten their grip across the city, the last signs of Dutch resistance are being swept away. Marijke de Graaf and her husband are arrested and deported to different concentration camps in Germany. Marijke is given a terrible choice: to suffer a slow death in the labour camp or—for a chance at survival—to join the camp brothel.

On the other side of the barbed wire, SS officer Karl Müller arrives at the camp hoping to live up to his father’s expectations of wartime glory. But faced with a brutal routine of overseeing executions and punishments, he longs for an escape. When he encounters the newly arrived Marijke, this meeting changes their lives forever.

Woven into the narrative across space and time is Luciano Wagner’s ordeal in 1977 Buenos Aires, during the heat of the Argentine Dirty War. In his struggle to endure military captivity, he searches for ways to resist from a prison cell he may never leave.

From the Netherlands to Germany to Argentina, The Dutch Wife braids together the stories of three individuals who share a dark secret and are entangled in two of the most oppressive reigns of terror in modern history. This is a novel about the blurred lines between love and lust, abuse and resistance, and right and wrong, as well as the capacity for ordinary people to persevere and do the unthinkable in extraordinary circumstances.

Review

Marijke and her husband are political prisoners of the Third Reich. Marijke stays alive by becoming one of the many women in the camp brothel. This is where she encounters Karl Müller, an SS officer. He falls in love with this Dutch beauty. This could ultimately be the death of her.

There is another story line weaving through this novel. Luciano has been kidnapped by the Argentine Army. He struggles to maintain his sanity and his strength while being tortured and starved. The reason for this tragedy is not revealed to the reader till the very end of this tale.

This story is hard to read in places. It is difficult to read about man’s inhumanity to man! When Marijke becomes a lady in the brothel, I cringed. I can’t imagine going through what these people went through to survive. Then there is Luciano’s hardship. It is along the same line and is definitely cringe worthy. But, the whole time I am wondering what the devil this has to do with Marijke? Why is this even part of this book? I figured it out before the author let me in on the why…it is a big WHY!

I wish the characters were a little more well-rounded. They seem a little detached and unfeeling. And this is a novel which gives you all the feels. The horrors, the torture, the relief when it is all over create a fantastic story. One not soon forgotten.

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

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