reecaspieces

Overview

In the vein of David Baldacci, John Grisham, and Harlan Coben—this is Steve Berry like you’ve never experienced him before.

After a ten-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia nestled close to the Savannah River. Two years ago, his father died, and now Brent, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel, is returning to care for his ailing mother.

For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks.

Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company. Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners, but also place Brent Walker square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead—with only one course left available.

Review

Well, this is Steve Berry like you have never seen him before. I have read them all. And to be honest, it is nice to take a break from Cotton Malone for a while.

For decades, Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks.

There is a list! And when this list is discovered, it takes a while to put two and two together. But Brent eventually gets it right. And when he does…he discovers more than he bargained for and it hits very close to home.

This story takes you on a wild ride of corporate greed. Being someone who has worked for ComeVisitSatan (CVS Pharmacy), nothing a company does would surprise me. Corporate greed is a strong thing…and this book brings it to the front and center.

Y’all know I love this narrator! No one and I repeat…NO ONE is better than Scott Brick.

Need a good industrial murder thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

A powerful art dealer who presents a convincing portrait of international success pulls an idealistic young gallery assistant into his web of lies. This sharp, edgy social thriller explores the price of ambition in the decadent underbelly of the high-end art world.

Nobody knows quite who Rudolph Sullivan is, or how he ascended so quickly to the glittering top of New York’s art scene. When aspiring artist and struggling gallery assistant Ingrid meets the charismatic dealer at a party, she falls fast—Rudolph offers her a seductive taste of luxury and an escape from her humdrum existence.

       But Rudolph is hiding much more than his dazzling facade lets on. With insatiable tastes and a need to keep up appearances, his debts mount rapidly, and he turns to double dealing to stay afloat. As his adversaries close in, Rudolph realizes his fall from grace could cost him more than his reputation. Panicking, paranoid, and willing to sacrifice anyone to maintain his precarious foothold, he plans his most audacious gambit yet—and Ingrid is at the center of it.

Review

Nobody knows quite who Rudolph Sullivan is, or how he ascended so quickly to the glittering top of New York’s art scene. When aspiring artist and struggling gallery assistant Ingrid meets the charismatic dealer at a party, she falls fast—Rudolph offers her a seductive taste of luxury and an escape from her humdrum existence.

The pacing seems a bit off in this book. And it is a bit disjointed in spots. But, stick with it. Rudolph is a very good villain. He is a bit deranged and he is determined. So, he does not care who he hurts to get what he wants.

Then there is Ingrid. She is a bit naïve. And this leads to some intense situations…in more ways than one!

Need a thriller about the underworld of the art scene…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in this enchanting novel about estranged lovers reconnecting over mysterious tapes found in an attic and the old Hollywood secret hidden within them.

After her grandmother’s death, thirty-something Margot DuBois prepares to sell the house quickly so she can go back to her predictable life in Santa Barbara. There, no one knows she used to write and how not succeeding wrecked her confidence. While cleaning out the attic, she comes across eight unlabeled cassette tapes. Unable to use the damaged tape player, she calls in a favor from Leo—her first love and first epic heartbreak—and they strike a deal: he’ll fix the player if he can hear what’s on the tapes. When they manage to listen, the two are shocked to hear the voice of comedic legend Vivian Stone. Why did she record these tapes and how did Margot’s grandmother get them? 

Between listening to Vivian recount everything from her forbidden love for Hollywood’s leading actor, to working under a misogynistic exec, to her chemistry with her costar-turned-husband on TV, Margot and Leo fall down a memory lane of their own. Margot is inspired by Vivian’s tenacity and courage to keep fighting for the life she wants, but everything changes when Vivian reveals a secret tied to her past in this moving exploration of how it’s never too late to start over.

Review

Between listening to Vivian recount everything from her forbidden love for Hollywood’s leading actor, to working under a misogynistic exec, to her chemistry with her costar-turned-husband on TV, Margot and Leo fall down a memory lane of their own. Margot is inspired by Vivian’s tenacity and courage to keep fighting for the life she wants, but everything changes when Vivian reveals a secret tied to her past in this moving exploration of how it’s never too late to start over.

This is told in two different timelines, present day and Vivian’s past. I loved the way the author incorporated tapes to tell Vivian’s story. This made her past come to life and kept the story so intriguing. It definitely made the anticipation mount for the reader!

Then there is Margot. I will say, I was not a fan at first. I can’t quite put my finger on it. I felt a bit detached from her. But as the story moves along, she became a favorite.

I enjoyed this family mystery! The dual timelines, secrets and the hunt for the truth made for a good read!

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

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

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Overview

With sparkling wit and insight, this “gorgeous . . . page-turner” (People) from the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry reminds us that family is everything, even when it falls apart.

“The beautiful writing, unforgettable characters, and stunning setting make this a must-read.”—Bonnie Garmus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

“It’s all here, dear readers. Art. Beauty. Pain. Redemption. Rachel Joyce’s masterful skill and emotional breadth are dazzling.”—Adriana Trigiani, author of The Good Left Undone

There is a heatwave across Europe, and four siblings have gathered at their family’s lake house to seek answers about their father, a famous artist, who recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his long-awaited masterpiece.

Now he is dead. And there is no sign of his final painting.

As the siblings try to piece together what happened, they spend the summer in a state of lawlessness: living under the same roof for the first time in decades, forced to confront the buried wounds they incurred as his children, and waiting for answers. Though they have always been close, the things they learn that summer—about themselves—and their father—will drive them apart before they can truly understand his legacy. Meanwhile, their stepmother’s enigmatic presence looms over the house. Is she the force that will finally destroy the family for good?

Wonderfully atmospheric, at heart this is a novel about the bonds of siblinghood—what happens when they splinter, and what it might take to reconnect them.

Review

There is a heatwave across Europe, and four siblings have gathered at their family’s lake house to seek answers about their father, a famous artist, who recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his long-awaited masterpiece. As the siblings try to piece together what happened, they spend the summer in a state of lawlessness: living under the same roof for the first time in decades, forced to confront the buried wounds they incurred as his children, and waiting for answers.

Now this tale is a bit long. But, the longer you read the more you need to know what is wrong with this family. And believe me, there is quite a bit wrong with all of them. They are all damaged in one way or another. And don’t get me started on the “young” wife…she is an enigma!

I enjoyed how this story unfolded. It is a bit of a mystery and trust me, the mystery is worth solving! I also enjoyed how this family came together at the end.

Need a wicked family drama…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst, discover The Reluctant Flirt…

Just one night…

After discovering her husband’s affair, Sierra Lourde flees to New York City for a little damage control—and a lot of wine. A tipsy night in a bar with a charming stranger seems like the perfect way to forget her troubles. No names, no promises, just one night to escape reality and regain her confidence. The next morning, mortified by her vulnerability, she flees without looking back. But who needs closure, right?

But one night changes everything…

Sierra has reinvented herself as the proud owner of Flirt, a trendy boutique in the Outer Banks. Life is good—until Kane Masterson, the man she left behind, walks back into town. And of course, he’s now the developer whose big new project threatens to bulldoze her beloved shop. Kane needs this deal to save his career, but Sierra’s not about to let him demolish her hard-won success.

With sparks flying, sarcastic jabs turning into lingering looks, and a family wedding forcing them into close quarters, Sierra and Kane find themselves tangled in a battle of wills—and hearts. But now he has to choose: reclaim his career or risk everything for a second chance with the one woman he can’t forget.

Review

Sierra has reinvented herself as the proud owner of Flirt, a trendy boutique in the Outer Banks. Life is good—until Kane Masterson, the man she left behind, walks back into town. And of course, he’s now the developer whose big new project threatens to bulldoze her beloved shop. Kane needs this deal to save his career, but Sierra’s not about to let him demolish her hard-won success.

I have read quite a few Jennifer Probst books. This one is my favorite. I enjoyed the chemistry between these characters. And Kane…I loved him. I will say Sierra is a bit stubborn and tended to jump to conclusions but Kane has her number. As a reader, you are really rooting for them as a couple!

Yes, this story is a bit predictable but it is a quick, enjoyable read.

Need a good romance with great chemistry between the characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

Delia Pitts expertly writes about family, race, class, and grief in her mysteries. Vandy Myrick captured audiences’ and critics’ hearts in Trouble in Queenstown. She returns in Death of an Ex, where Vandy tries to piece together what brought her ex-husband’s life to an end.

Queenstown, New Jersey, feels big when you need help and tiny when you want privacy. For Vandy Myrick, that’s both a blessing and a curse. Now that Vandy’s back in “Q-Town,” her services as her hometown’s only Black woman private investigator have earned her more celebrity—or notoriety—than she figured.

Keeping busy with work helps Vandy deal with the grief of losing her daughter, stitching the seams, cementing the gaps. The memories will always remain, and they come crashing back to the surface when her ex-husband, Phil Bolden, walks back into her life. Promising everything, returning home, restoring family. Until she answers her door to the news that Phil has been murdered. And Vandy decides Phil is now her client.

It’s hard to separate the Phil that Vandy knew from the one Queenstown did. She sees him—and their daughter—in Phil’s son, who attends a prestigious local high school. She sees the layers of a complicated marriage with his wife. She sees all of Phil’s various roles: parent, husband, businessman, philanthropist. But which role got him killed?

Review

Queenstown, New Jersey, feels big when you need help and tiny when you want privacy. For Vandy Myrick, that’s both a blessing and a curse. Now that Vandy’s back in “Q-Town,” her services as her hometown’s only Black woman private investigator have earned her more celebrity—or notoriety—than she figured.

I love Vandy. She is very matter of fact and I enjoyed this about her. She is also super intelligent…well, that is until she “taken in” again by her ex, Phil, and his charms.

Phil is a piece of work. But he knows how to use his charisma to his advantage. Unfortunately, this does not save him from being murdered! But, Vandy will not rest until she finds out exactly what happened. She discovers more than she bargained for.

I enjoyed this puzzling murder. It just keeps twisting around until the truth comes out!!

I read the first one in the series, Trouble in Queenstown. It is not necessary that you read them in order.

I love this narrator Bahni Turpin. She is great as Vandy!!

Need a good murder mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

After decades of bestsellers, Wayward Girls might be Susan Wiggs’ opus. A gut-wrenching story of survival, friendship, and justice. Masterful.”–Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

“The magnificent Susan Wiggs takes a leap into the history of women..a page-turner, replete with mystery and suspense.”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Timesbestselling author of The Good Left Undone

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs, a wrenching but life-affirming novel based on a true story of survival, friendship, and redemption. Set in the turbulent Vietnam era in the All-American city of Buffalo, New York, six girls are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a Catholic reform school.

In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns—locked away merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.

Mairin— free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.

Angela—denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

Helen—the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

Odessa—caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.

Janice—deeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty lay—except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Sister Bernadette—rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

Wayward Girls is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption…and justice.

“Compelling…This powerful and unforgettable novel is a poignant and enlightening look into a sad chapter of recent history.”–Library Journal (starred review)

“Heart-wrenching…sweeping. This one lingers long after the last page.”–Publishers Weekly

“Wayward girls is all about the power of female bonds…this isn’t just a moment in time—it’s a cautionary tale.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

“Susan Wiggs is at the top of her game. Through the skillful weaving of an endearing cast, Wayward Girls displays the power of sisterhood to survive, conquer, and ultimately heal from the most harrowing of times. An evocative tale packed with resilience and secrets that kept me reading late into the night. I loved it.” —Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Girls of Good Fortune

Review

Oh y’all!! This book!! Fantastic!

In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns—locked away merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.

I just don’t know where to start writing this review without it going off the rails. This book, these characters, their situations will take you on a ride that will keep you thinking about them for days to come.

All of these young ladies face their own trauma and life has beaten them down at a young age. Then they are sent to the Good Shepherd where they are abused in more ways than one.

Mairin is the main young lady and she is tough as nails and even this “school”takes its toll on her. She is sent to this horrible place because her step dad tried to make moves on her. Her mother was trying to keep her safe…y’all just read it!!

This story will make you mad, sad, and gasp with the tragic situations these young ladies endure. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Need an emotional tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

From the author of the “irresistible” (Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Where the Truth Lies, an atmospheric novel about a young woman who searches for answers after her estranged friend is found dead in the bayou of their rural Louisiana hometown.

The Labasques aren’t like other families.

Living in a shack out in the swamps, they made do by hunting down alligators and other animals. To the good people of Jacknife, Louisiana, they are troublemakers and outcasts, the kind of people you wouldn’t want in your community.

So, when Cutter Labasque is found face down in the muddy swamp, no one seems to care, not even her two brothers. The only person who questions the official verdict of suicide is Cutter’s childhood friend, Loyal May, who has just returned home to care for her mother. When she left town at eighteen years old, she betrayed Cutter. Now with a ragtag group from the local paper where she works, Loyal goes in search of answers, uncovering a web of deceit and corruption that implicates those in town. It may be too late to apologize to Cutter, but Loyal has restitution in mind.

Weaving through the swamps and bayous of rural Louisiana, Our Last Wild Days is an atmospheric, smoldering suspense about our darker impulses—and how to set things right.

Review

Loyal is struggling. She has left her job and moved back home to help take care of her mother. But her past is determined to haunt her. When her best friend from her childhood, Cutter is found facedown in the swamp, she is determined to find the truth. Loyal owes Cutter a big apology and she never gets to say the words.

I enjoyed Loyal. She is a complex character. She is resolved to find out what happened to Cutter. She knows she did not kill herself. So, she looks to Cutter’s brothers. And trust me…they definitely could have done it!

I fluctuated between 3 and 4 stars on this one. This tale is a bit long and slowed down in the middle. But, I loved the twist at the end and the setting of the Louisiana swamp…nothing is creepier! And talk about ominous characters and alligators…this book has them in abundance.

Need an atmospheric tale with disturbing characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

Named a Best Book of Summer by The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, CrimeReads, and more!

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Turnout comes a simmering, atmospheric novel of friendship and betrayal, following a women-led pyramid scheme in suburban Detroit.

“Abbott is a superstar of the suspense genre.” —NPR

All I want is to be innocent again. But that’s not how it works. Especially not after the Wheel.

The three Bishop sisters grew up in privilege in the moneyed suburbs of Detroit. But as the auto industry declined, so did their fortunes. Harper, the youngest, is barely making ends meet when her beloved, charismatic sister Pam—currently in the middle of a contentious battle with her ex-husband—and her eldest sister, Debra, approach her about joining an exciting new club.

The Wheel offers women like themselves—middle-aged and of declining means—a way to make their own money, independent of husbands or families. Quickly, however, the Wheel’s success, and their own addiction to it, leads to greater and greater risks—and a crime so shocking it threatens to bring everything down with it.

Megan Abbott turns her keen eye toward women and money in El Dorado Drive, a riveting story about power, vulnerability, and how desperation draws out our most destructive impulses.

Review

Harper is keeping secrets from everyone. She owes a ton of money! So, when her sister suggests she join a club that could help her make money, Harper was a bit hesitant at first. But then she starts making some much needed money and her concerns get a tad bit easier. Then her sister gets killed and their little club might be on the cops radar.

Now, I am not going to lie. Being a science person and not a finance person, I truly got a bit lost when the explanation of the club or “the wheel” took place. It’s a pyramid scheme on the next level!! Once I got through that section of the book, the story took off.

I really liked Harper. She is a bit of a hot mess. And don’t get me started on her sisters! No one is as they seem! And believe me, their anxiety about money is very telling!

I enjoyed this tale of money scheming and greed! Oh…the secrets!!

Need a story of desperation…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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