reecaspieces

Overview

From the author of the “delightful” (New York Times Book Review) Mary Jane, a new novel of found family, growing up, and the best and worst of the 1980s, revolving around San Francisco’s most exclusive department store, I. Magnin.

Nineteen-year-old Zippy can hardly believe it: she’s the newest and youngest salesgirl at I. Magnin, “San Francisco’s Finest Department Store.” Every week, she rotates her three spruced-up Salvation Army outfits and Vaseline-shined pumps; still, she’s thrilled to walk those pumps through the employee entrance five days a week as she saves to buy something new. For a girl who grew up in a one-bedroom apartment above a liquor store with her mother and her mother’s madcap boyfriend, Howard; a girl who wanted to go to college but had no help in figuring out how; I. Magnin represents a real chance for a better and more elegant life. Or, at the very least, a more interesting one.

Zippy may not be in school, but she’s about to get an education that will stick with her for decades. Her fellow salesgirls (lifetime professionals) run the gamut from mean and indifferent to caring and helpful. The cosmetics ladies on the first floor share both samples and advice (“only date a man with a Rolex”); and her new roommate, Raquel, an ambitious lawyer, tells Zippy she can lose ten pounds easy if she joins Raquel in eating only every other day. Just when Zippy thinks she’s getting a handle on how to be an adult woman in 1985, two surprises threaten both her sense of self and her coveted position at I. Magnin.

Set in the Day-Glo colors of 1980s San Francisco, Shopgirls is an intoxicating novel of self-discovery, outrageous fashion, and family both biological and found.

Review

I have done some thinking about this book. And I settled on a 3 star rating. And I hate to do that because I love, love, love this author. You cannot beat her book Mary Jane. But, even though this book has some of her brilliance. I just did not enjoy it quite like her other books, and I have read them all.

This story follows Zippy. She is a young, naive sales girl for I. Magnin. I loved Zippy’s intelligence and her work ethic. She knows how to read her clients and this leads to quite a lot of jealousy with her other sales girls.

I enjoyed reading about I. Magnin and how their process worked. And all the gorgeous clothes. This is a unique setting for sure!

However, this story is a bit slow and drawn out. There is a bit too much of the sales and who is buying what. And the paper dolls…🤷🏻‍♀️. These just didn’t seem to fit. You will need to read this to find out.

But, Zippy is the reason for everything in this book and she is a character that will keep you reading. She has a lot to learn and discover and she has such a big heart.

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

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Overview

A famous actress whose life is unraveling flees to an idyllic English lakeside resort and the best friend she ghosted in this poignant and witty story from the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Book Club Hotel.  

In school, Milly Beckett and Nicole Raven were as close as sisters. Now, years later, a gulf separates them, and not just because of the different spheres they inhabit. Nicole is a global superstar with the world at her fingertips, but when scandal breaks, she turns to the only person she trusts.

Fresh from a painful divorce and struggling to balance her work and raising her daughter alone, Milly is tempted to refuse her friend’s plea for help. Nicole wasn’t there for her when she needed her most, and that’s hard to forgive. But Nicole is desperate and Milly agrees to give her the sanctuary she needs.

Against a stunning Lake District backdrop, stilted small talk gradually gives way to soul-deep revelations as the two women slowly find their way back to one another. Living with Milly gives Nicole a glimpse of a different path for herself, and Milly starts to see a life beyond her divorce, including the possibility of a new romance. But Nicole can’t stay hidden forever—and neither can the secret she’s been keeping from Milly, a secret that threatens both her future happiness and the fragile bond between them.

Review

I loved every character in this book. Each character has their own neurotic issues. So, there is someone in this book you can relate to…trust me!

Nicole is a famous movie star. She ghosted her best friend, Milly, when Milly needed her the most. Now Nicole needs Milly to help her, and of course, Milly comes to her rescue….But, their path back to “best friends” is not going to be easy.

I have said this before and I will say it again…I love a book with secrets and this book has quite a few. Nicole is definitely holding out on Milly. But, Milly just can’t quite let her back in. And when the secret comes out, as it always does, look out!

Need a book to just take you away…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

Three girls go into the woods, but only one comes out…

Driving alone at night in a wild rainstorm, Luke Conway strikes something—or someone. He and his wife, Carrie, recently moved back to Clear River to help take care of her ailing father, and after a tragedy at his previous job, this move is their last chance at a new life. Now, standing in the downpour on this Texas road, Luke, an off-duty cop, has a decision to make—and he has to make it fast.

No one else is around. No witnesses. And he can’t find a body.

Wanting to believe he’s being paranoid, that he’s just seeing things, Luke panics and leaves, deciding not to report the incident but rather to secretly investigate it. He can’t put more stress on Carrie, who’s already haunted by the unsolved attack and murder of two teenage girls that happened years ago in Clear River, a horrific crime in which she was the sole survivor. The killer has not been found, but Carrie and Luke’s anguished search for answers will slowly reveal the horrific truth.

Review

Luke, an L. A. cop, is married to Carrie. Carrie is the daughter of a retired cop of Clear River. She has a mysterious past. She was the only witness to the murder of two of her friends years ago. And Carrie cannot remember anything. Since her dad’s health is failing, they have moved back to Clear River. And now her memories are starting to return. But they are not what she thought!

I did find Luke a bit of a…how do I say this nicely…well, he could make better decisions. Let’s put it that way. When he hit someone and then fled the scene, it wasn’t suspicious at all when he kept asking about someone. 🤦🏻‍♀️

But, Luke is a character which added quite a bit of intensity to this tale. And yes, you will need to read this to find out…but watch out for the twist at the end! It is a doozy!

As with all of Rick Mofina’s books, this one is filled with intensity, suspicions, questions and drama.

I have been a fan of this author for years. He has some really good thrillers. I have never listened to one so I was excited to get this on audio. The narrator, Will Damron, did a wonderful job with all the intensity and anticipation!

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

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

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Chirp

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Overview

Set over one summer in the charming seaside resort of Cape May, New Jersey, amid the planning of a lavish wedding three longtime friends find that past secrets, new loves, and hard choices test their bond like never before. 
Perfect for fans of Brenda Jackson, Rhonda McKnight, and Susan Mallery.

Fast friends since forever, Lu, Kenya, and Natalia share a special love for the historical beach town of Cape May. For Lu, it was a welcome escape from the corporate arena into a simpler life—owning a B&B with her soon-to-be-husband, Zach. . . . Kenya fell for Cape May’s tranquil shores and believed she and her high school sweetheart would be there together forever. . . . And family vineyard owner Natalia feels it’s the perfect place to complete her happy marriage with the baby—or babies—she desperately longs for . . .

But as the trio plans Lu’s lavish wedding, the bride-to-be is stunned when the estranged father she thought was dead shows up to make amends—and throws her every certainty about family and love into heartbreaking doubt. Meanwhile, widowed Kenya is drawn to a kind, attractive stranger, even as she wonders if passion is enough to risk her future on. And when Natalia uncovers an unthinkable betrayal, the secrets she and her friends have kept from each other will explode across the long summer nights . . .

Moving and relatable, here is a captivating story of true sisterhood, and the ties that challenge us—and help us heal.

Review

I love this time of year when all the beach reads start coming out.

Fast friends since forever, Lu, Kenya, and Natalia share a special love for the historical beach town of Cape May. These three friends are very different but they have a tight bond. That is until the secrets start to come out. Can their friendship survive?

I enjoyed these three ladies. They each have their own issues. Lu has just discovered that her father is alive. Her mother told her he died years ago. Natalia’s husband is having an affair. And Kenya is newly widowed and struggling with her grief. Not only are these big issues but each lady is harboring a different secret from the others. And as you can guess…it all comes out!

This is a bit predictable but I enjoyed these three ladies, the setting, secrets and drama!

Need a story about lies, betrayal and true friendship…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

For readers of Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury, the first in a dazzling new series of romantic, feel-good standalone stories with a dash of adventure set against the dramatic landscape of North Carolina’s Outer Banks—the perfect place for second chances, bittersweet love, and a thrilling quest—from internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn.

It’s a promise of better things to come . . .

With its colorful history, and miles of sand, tide, and windswept oaks, North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a paradise for locals and tourists alike. For Curtis Gage, returning after nineteen years to be the new assistant manager of a 5-star, ocean-front resort, it’s a chance to start a new life—and come to terms with an old one. This is where his father, a revered police chief, died in the line of duty. Whisked away by his mother when he was just a child, Curtis always yearned to come back and reclaim this magnificent necklace of islands as home.

But he never imagined the risks . . .

This coastal haven is in attorney Rae Alden’s blood, and the resort’s expansion is encroaching on precious Fortunate Harbor. For Rae and the old-town families she represents, their generations-old heritage is not for sale for all the money in the world. Who’d have guessed that the ordeal would tie Rae to Curtis, a childhood sweetheart whose family tragedy once converged, fatefully, with her own past? The landgrab is reuniting them in more ways than one. Because the property is more valuable than even Rae believed. The proof is in a secret deed and a long-lost map to a bona fide buried treasure.

If pirate legends, rekindled romance, and real-life adventure aren’t enough to make the heart pound, Curtis and Rae discover they aren’t the only ones hunting. In love and in danger, they have each other, and are finding a place to call home. That alone is a fortune worth fighting for.

Review

Now y’all, I am not going to lie…this book is a bit slow. But, this story also hit me at just the right time. I needed something that took me away. This one takes you away to the wonderful place of the Outer Banks.

Curtis has returned after 19 years away. And oh, the memories are getting to him. Then he runs into his old girlfriend, Rae. And these two are on opposite sides of a big land deal.

I enjoyed how these two interacted. Curtis is definitely a bit withdrawn and quiet…with good reason. But Rae doesn’t let him get by with it. She is determined to set everything straight, for the past and the present.

Need a book with a great setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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Overview

Sarah Penner transported me to the sea-swept cliffs of Positano and introduced me to characters I’ll never forget. A magical read!”—Emilia Hart, New York Times bestselling author of Weyward

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.

About the author

Sarah Penner is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The London Seance Society and The Lost Apothecary, which will be translated into forty languages worldwide and is set to be turned into a drama series by Fox. Sarah spent thirteen years in corporate finance and now writes full-time. She and her husband live in Florida. To learn more, visit SarahPenner.com.

Social Links:

Author Website: https://www.sarahpenner.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_penner_author/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahPennerAuthor 

Review

Haven is searching for the treasure her dad discovered before he passed away. And this leads her to discover a historical tale about magic and controlling the ocean.

I loved these dual timelines! Talk about masterfully done! The magic and the sorcery in one timeline and the drama of buried treasure in the other! SEA WITCHES…ENOUGH SAID!

However, I did sort of struggle with connecting to the characters. And as good as Haven is, I wanted her to be a bit stronger and fight just a bit harder. And when you read this, you will understand.

Need a witchy tale full of mystery, drama and an atmospheric setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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