reecaspieces

Overview

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampiresmeets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in this twisty, fresh take on a Southern gothic that follows a mysterious, charming bachelor as he makes his way into a small town, bringing a plague and the devil with him, from GMA Buzz Pick author Dana Elmendorf.

Grave birds haunt the cemeteries of Hawthorne, South Carolina, where Spanish moss drips from the trees and Southern charm is imbued with lies. Hollis Sutherland never knew these unique birds existed, not until she died and was brought back to life. The ghostly birds are manifestations of the dead’s unfinished business, and they know Hollis and her uncanny gift can set them free.

When a mysterious, charming bachelor wanders into the small town, bizarre events begin to plague its wealthiest citizens—blood drips from dogwood blossoms, flocks of birds crash into houses, fire tornadoes descend from the sky. Hollis knows these are the omens her grandfather warned about, announcing the devil’s return. But despite Cain Landry’s eerie presence and the plague that has followed him, his handsome face and wicked charm win over the townsfolk. Even Hollis falls under his spell as they grow closer.

That is, until lies about the town’s past start to surface. The grave birds begin to show Hollis the dead’s ugly deeds from some twenty-five years ago and the horrible things some people did to gain their wealth. Hollis can’t decide if Cain is some immortal hand of God, there to expose their sins. Or if he’s a devil there to ruin them all. Either way, she’s determined to save her town and the people in it, whatever it takes.

Review

Grave birds haunt the cemeteries of Hawthorne, South Carolina, where Spanish moss drips from the trees and Southern charm is imbued with lies. Hollis Sutherland never knew these unique birds existed, not until she died and was brought back to life. The ghostly birds are manifestations of the dead’s unfinished business, and they know Hollis and her uncanny gift can set them free.

These grave birds are not holding anything back. They are determined to make sure their story is told. And this is sending Hollis on a quest that will change the way her whole town thinks.

I love a story which has a bit of the supernatural in it. And good goobly goop…this one is definitely full of that. Add in the drama surrounding all the deceptions and this is a story you will think about for days to come!

Another unique tale by Dana Elmendorf! I read In The Hour Of The Crows a while back and I found it a fascinating read. And this novel is right up there with it. It is creepy, eerie and mysterious all rolled into one.

Need a story about lies and deceptions with a mystical aspect thrown in…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

Rikki Thunder, twenty-two-year-old drummer for the scorching new ’80s metal band Whyte Python, is about to have it all: absurd wealth, global fame, and a dream girlfriend. But an unwitting role as an international spy? That was definitely not part of the plan.

“A rock-n-roll thrill ride… Heavy Metal icon Rikki Thunder’s satirical memoir is sweeter than Cherry Pie and better than a prescription from Dr. Feelgood! You need to read it.”—Ernest Cline

It’s Los Angeles, 1986, and metal rules the world. For aspiring drummer Rikki Thunder, life is beautiful, just like his hair—even if he is sleeping in a condemned paint store and playing with a band that’s going nowhere. But when Rikki gets a shot to join L.A.’s hottest up-and-coming club band, Whyte Python, his young life takes a mind-blowing turn. Soon he and his new band mates have a hit single rocketing up the charts, Whyte Python is selling out major clubs, and Rikki has a gorgeous girlfriend in the audience and in his life. He literally could not ask for anything more.

But good fortune can be deceiving. As the band gets a deeper taste of success in the US, the late-80’s Cold War is breathing its last gasps around the world. American music is blasting through the Iron Curtain and a youth revolution is taking hold—with a hair band unknowingly playing host to the final battle for the hearts and minds of young people everywhere. Rikki Thunder soon questions the forces that are helping to propel Whyte Python, and he realizes the stakes of his musical journey—to spread peace, love, and epic shredding across the globe—might be far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

Crafted on the satirical knife-edge between high-suspense and head-banging hilarity, The Whyte Python World Tour is a raucous, uplifting, and refreshing debut. Travis Kennedy’s adrenaline-charged novel is delightfully steeped in ’80s music and cultural nostalgia, delivering one of the most entertaining listens of the year.

Review

Rikki Thunder, twenty-two-year-old drummer for the scorching new ’80s metal band Whyte Python, is about to have it all: absurd wealth, global fame, and a dream girlfriend. But an unwitting role as an international spy? That was definitely not part of the plan.

This is truly one of the most 80s things out there today. I enjoyed this novel. Is it quirky…absolutely! Is it far fetched…definitely! But did it take me back in time…undoubtedly! All the music and band references took this GenXer down memory lane.

Then there is the action! Y’all this book is more action packed than I expected. There were places I was on the edge of my seat wondering if Rikki Thunder was going to come out alive!

Then there is the humor! I laughed out loud quite a few times. Honestly! There is one place in this book where Rikki says “A map!” And in the context of the situation…I literally busted out laughing and I am still laughing! Reminded me of some stupid 80s movies. And with the right actor, this book would make a great movie

Wil Wheaton….OMG! He is fantastic as the narrator. He nailed every quip and made the 80s music come alive.

Need an all around good story…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

And for the record, when I was trying to find a background photo for this cover…I just couldn’t do a snake..nope nada!! Gives me the shivers!

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

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Overview

A young woman searching for her missing sister in 1930s California is drawn into a dark and dangerous cult in this intoxicating binge of sacrifice and obsession, strange rituals, alluring promises, and a beautiful prison for readers of Emma Cline’s The Girls, California Golden by Melanie Benjamin, and The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd.

Born a year apart, May and June Anderson were once as close as twins. Time and a loveless marriage changed the once vibrant May into June’s timid counterpart. Now, two years after June abruptly disappeared, May receives a letter from her sister, inviting her to visit a mysterious colony in southern California. Eager to match June’s boldness for once, May doesn’t hesitate.

The Colony is located in a magnificent Spanish Revival-style mansion perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, and is presided over by the group’s charismatic leader, Rex. Colony members believe in an afterlife where departed souls mingle, and that the truly enlightened can even summon back the spirits of lost loved ones. May is told that June has recently left on a mission, and she’s intrigued enough to accept Rex’s invitation to stay until her sister’s return.

Drawn deeper into the group, and under Rex’s seductive spell, May undergoes their initiation ceremony. Yet her questions grow more urgent with June’s continued absence—and the warnings of a presumptuous but charming undercover investigator. May has longed for the daring, adventurous life her sister pursued, but her arrival has sparked a dangerous unraveling within the Colony, where nothing and no one is quite as it seems.

Gripping and atmospheric, The Colony of Lost Souls immerses readers in a world of secrets, deception, and unexpected redemption.

Review

Born a year apart, May and June Anderson were once as close as twins. Time and a loveless marriage changed the once vibrant May into June’s timid counterpart. Now, two years after June abruptly disappeared, May receives a letter from her sister, inviting her to visit a mysterious colony in southern California. Eager to match June’s boldness for once, May doesn’t hesitate.

This story is definitely one that keeps you entertained. Is it a bit weird? YES! Is it intense? YES! Does it move like lightning? YES! And when it is over, you may be questioning…what did I just read? This story has a little bit of everything and there will be times you will scrunch your face up because it has a gory spot or two.

By looking at this cover, this was not the novel I expected. (Y’all, I very seldom read a blurb🤦🏻‍♀️😂—MY BAD!) I expected more of a gothic romance set on the moors🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️—once again…MY BAD! What I got was a strong tale set in California about a dangerous cult with a little bit of reincarnation thrown in. And I very much enjoyed it!

Need a fast paced novel that will keep your stomach in knots…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

An enigmatic painting. The mystery of who painted it. A riveting thriller from the bestselling author of The Art Forger.In a gripping novel full of plot twists, B. A. Shapiro embeds us in a circle of famous painters in late-nineteenth-century Paris, centering on the anguished Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot—the one woman in their midst who never got her due—and the story of Morisot’s great-great-great-great granddaughter, Tamara Rubin, who has inherited Édouard Manet’s Party on the Seine, a painting that completely upends her life. 

When Tamara inherits Party, she discovers a long-hidden family history replete with unanswered questions: How had it been stolen by the Nazis? How had the painting managed to survive three disasters that destroyed every other artwork around it? And most of all, why had she never known about her ancestor, Berthe Morisot? As the painting begins to metamorphose into darker and more terrifying versions of itself, Tamara’s ordinary life is thrown into turmoil. What wounds and resentments plagued Morisot, and to what lengths will her spirit go for revenge?

The Lost Masterpiece is a story of love, adultery, betrayal, family secrets, and the grueling birth of Impressionism, taking the reader on a whirlwind adventure from the streets of Paris in the late 1800s and the studio Berthe Morisot shared with Manet, Degas, and Renoir to the present day. Shapiro brings Berthe’s world to life, tracing her work through generations of descendants and introducing us to a painter as brilliant and original as her male counterparts across 150 years of triumphs, struggles, passions, animosities, and malevolence.

Review

When Tamara inherits Party, she discovers a long-hidden family history replete with unanswered questions: How had it been stolen by the Nazis? How had the painting managed to survive three disasters that destroyed every other artwork around it? And most of all, why had she never known about her ancestor, Berthe Morisot?

This is told in two different time periods, present day and late nineteenth century Paris. I actually liked the present day better than the past. It moved faster and I loved Tamara. Her struggles and her connections to the painting are compelling.

Now, don’t think this is just about the loss and recovery of a painting. There is so much more to this novel. It is a bit of a ghost story as well! And I loved this part of the story. I knew where it was leading but it still kept me fascinated!

I did get this on audible because I can listen faster than I can read. And I really wanted to fit this book into my June reads. The narrators are Lucy Rayner,  Christine Lakin,  Hannah Curtis,  B. A. Shapiro. I was not a big fan of the narrator that did the past section. She just did not sit right with me. But the one that did Tamara’s time period is excellent.

Need a tale with family drama, betrayal and secrets…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

Welcome back to Sunrise Cove for this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers tale where found family, forgiveness, and love may just be the key to finding yourself, from New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.

Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged.  So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to. 

Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for Lexi: for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.

Review

I have said this before and I will say this again…No one does snarky like Jill Shalvis. She cracks me up with her quips and her innuendos.

Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.

I loved Lexi. She keeps everything close to the vest. And my heart went out to her on more than one occasion. Then there is her sister Ashley. Ashley is more outgoing and she tickled the mess out of me. You will have to read this to find out. Then there is Heath! Oooolala!

There is more to this read than romance and fun, this is also about the complex family relationships, friendships and forgiveness.

Need a quick, fun read full of great characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

An antiques dealer and an enigmatic heiress embark on a revelatory friendship in a haunting and hopeful novel about family ties, secrets, and belonging by the bestselling author of A Heart Like Home.

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

Settling into Rose Hill’s carriage house, Claire finds Hanna, nearing eighty, to be a still-formidable woman. She’s demanding, judgmental, and protective of a mansion that is a veritable shrine to her ancestors. Then, diving into her work, Claire discovers a hidden library that is the stuff of legend among locals. An avid booklover, Claire is in heaven. More enthralling are Hanna’s leather-bound family journals that open Claire up to the past—and soon forge a rich and unexpected bond between two very different women.

A legacy is coming to light. All of Maine is talking. Because the revelations in the journals are enlightening enough to unite old friends, lovers, and families. And shocking enough to tear them apart forever.

Review

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

This books sends you on quite a ride with a good tale to tell. I loved Hanna and her story is one you do not want to miss.

Then there is Claire. There were times in this book that I liked her and times I wanted to jerk her bald headed. She tended to overstep. But, if she had not overstepped, we might not have learned where the library was located. But, as you read this, you will figure out what I mean about her personality.

I did expect a different ending. I wanted more of a past connection or a mystery connection with Hanna and Claire.

Need a good family drama with a hidden library…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

This is a writer that understands people down to the bones. Her characters are fallible and hopeful, flawed and loving, and so real they have stayed with me.” –Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author

“A knockout.” –Booklist Starred Review

This is a story of the rich and the very poor. This is a story of an illegal auction with dire consequences. This is a story of murders past and present. This is a story of intertwined relationships and the silent ripples they leave behind, where love becomes a guiding force, revealing the lengths one will go to protect those they cherish.

Over twenty years ago, a young hunting guide in rural Kentucky was driving his boat in the early morning mist when his peaceful cruise was cut short by a scene so disturbing, he packed up and moved away. Nine women died early that morning, but it was linked to a similar crime in Texas, so the locals quickly wrote it off as having nothing to do with them.

Now, all these years later, when everyone has nearly forgotten about that grisly part of their past, one man’s accidental death will bring everything back up to the surface. The locals who knew better can no longer claim it had nothing to do with them, and one woman, desperate to do whatever it takes to save her mother’s life, will learn that nearly everyone in her life has been lying to her.

In Court Stevens’s adult debut, she delves deep into the heart of a community, where some will learn that we don’t always live to see the ripples we make, but we must make them all the same.

Review

Over twenty years ago, a young hunting guide in rural Kentucky was driving his boat in the early morning mist when his peaceful cruise was cut short by a scene so disturbing, he packed up and moved away. Nine women died early that morning, but it was linked to a similar crime in Texas, so the locals quickly wrote it off as having nothing to do with them.

This story starts very slowly. It also has a lot of characters and this leads to a bit of confusion, especially at the beginning. This might have been different for me if I had physically read it.

But, as the story moves along it gets a bit better. I did expect more focus on the murders in this small town but this does not truly take place until about halfway through this book. This is when the story gets interesting. Plus, I really liked the characters Starr and Luxor. They truly kept this story moving for me.

This is narrated by Marin Ireland. I just think there are too many characters for one narrator to handle.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Chirp