The Summer Escape by Jill Shalvis @avonbooks #bookreview #romance

Overview

Secrets are revealed and forbidden sparks ignited in this sizzling Sunrise Cove standalone, a tale of enemies to lovers, redemption, missing treasures, and love—by romance superstar and New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

Anna Moore didn’t just wake up one day and decide to go on a wild quest—especially since her life no longer lends itself to wild anything—so how in the world does she end up racing against the clock with Owen Harris, a sexy, enigmatic adventurist, to prove her beloved dad innocent of stealing a million-dollar necklace? 

It’s all Wendy’s fault. Her older, bossy sister, who’s seven months pregnant and on bed rest in their small Lake Tahoe hometown, is desperate to clear their departed dad’s name. Owen, though, is convinced he’s guilty as hell and wants to return the jewelry back to its rightful owner—his elderly great aunt. Together Anna and Owen go on a scavenger hunt for clues to the past (with Wendy remotely along for the ride via an earbud, supplying a running wry commentary to boot).  

On opposing sides and suspicious of each other as they are, Anna and Owen still can’t deny the inexplicable and explosive chemistry between them on this heart-stopping adventure, the outcome of which will prove the necklace isn’t the only thing stolen—their hearts have been as well.

Review

Anna and her sister, Wendy, have come across an old coin in their Dad’s stuff. Their dad passed away and they are just now getting to go through some of his items. Come to find out, this coin was part of a big heist years ago. Enter Owen! Owen’s aunt is the victim of the robbery and he is bound and determined that Anna return everything her dad supposedly stole.

Jill Shalvis has become a staple in my reading life. I love her snarkiness and her characters. This book is exactly what I was hoping for. I needed a good summer escape and this one fit the bill!

I think my favorite part of this book is Wendy. Wendy is enormously pregnant with triplets and she cannot assist Anna with her quest to clear their father. So, she comes up with an excellent plan. She makes Anna put earbuds in and keep the phone line open so she can hear everything. And believe me…she has some of the best one liners…especially when Anna and Owen heat up!

Need a book the take to the beach to captivate you from start to finish…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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City of Books by Nicole Meier #bookreview #audiobook @suzyapbooktours @dreamscapeudio

Overview

Inspired by the temporary shuttering of Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon, City of Books explores a bibliophile’s fantasy: moving into a bookstore to stop it from closing.

Jo Waterstone knows what you should read next. She’s honed the skill of sizing up a person and recommending their next book in the decades she’s worked at Bruebaker’s Books. Her life has been shaped by the store, the bustle of customers exploring the stacks, and managing the eager staff. She can honestly say it’s the best job she’s ever had.

Then the store’s elderly owner, Mr. Bruebaker, suffers a stroke, and just like that Jo’s perfect job is on the chopping block. Mr. B’s daughters and the bookstore’s icy CEO think the time is right to close for good, and they order Jo to lock up. But she doesn’t know what she would be without Bruebaker’s—and besides, the place is an institution. So instead of following orders, she decides to take a stand: along with a few brave team members, she barricades herself in the store, trying to buy time until Mr. Bruebaker recovers and can speak for himself.

Living in a bookstore has a certain magic to it, but the quiet hours among the books throw the choices Jo has made in her life into sharp relief. As supporters (and detractors) start to voice their opinions about her actions, Jo will have to decide what, exactly, is worth saving.

Review

Jo works at one of the best bookstores in the northwest. She puts her heart and soul into her work. So, when her boss and mentor, Mr. Bruebaker has a stroke, she realizes she has to make some tough decisions.

Mr. Bruebaker’s daughters decide to close the store permanently while he is recuperating. They shut off all contact with everyone but the CEO. Jo knows Mr. Bruebaker would never want his store closed. She stages a sit in with all the employees and it turns into more of a protest than she ever expected.

As a reader, who wouldn’t love to sleep in a bookstore for an unexpected time period. Jo definitely stands up for what she believes and what she knows her boss would want.

This story hit me at the right time. I needed a feel good book with a purpose. And this book has it all! Great characters and a great setting and a good reason for it all!

The narrator, Cindy Kay, is fabulous, especially with all the voices!

Need a feel good tale with a kick…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Forgotten on Sunday by Valerie Perrin #audiobook #bookreview @dreamscapeaudio

Overview

An unforgettable story about an unlikely friendship and about healing the wounds of a broken past, from the million-copy bestselling author of Fresh Water for Flowers.

Justine is 21 years old, and has lived with her grandparents and her cousin Jules since the death of her parents. As a nursing assistant at a retirement home, she spends much of her days listening to her residents’ stories.

After bonding with Hélène, an almost 100-year-old resident, the two women slowly reveal their stories to one another. Whilst Justine helps Hélène to relive her memories of love and war, Hélène encourages Justine to confront the secrets of her own past and the loss she keeps buried deep within.

One day, a mysterious phone call detailing a shocking revelation shakes the retirement home to its core. At once humorous and melancholic, Valérie Perrin’s novel depicts the consequences of undeclared love and, in her inimitable way, portrays once again how the past is never really past.

Review

Justine works as a nursing assistant at a retirement home. She becomes very good friends with Hélène and Justine loves to hear her stories about the past. These two encourage each other to confront their tragic memories.

I very seldom say this. But, this book probably should be physically read and not via audiobook. It took me quite a while to figure out what time period I was in. The author did not let you know at the beginning of a chapter so you had to go pretty far into the chapter to figure it out. Also, the main character, Justine, would flash back to her past. This story was a bit confusing in places.

The narrator, Elisabeth Lagelée, did a very good job, especially with the French.

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

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In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf @harlequinbooks #bookreview

Book Summary

An engrossing and atmospheric debut that follows young Weatherly Wilder as she uses her unique gift to solve her cousin’s mysterious murder and prove her own innocence, set in the beautiful wilds of Appalachia and imbued with magic realism.

In a small town in rural Georgia, Appalachian roots and traditions still run deep. Folks paint their houses blue to keep the spirits way. Black ferns grow, it’s said, where death will follow. And Weatherly Wilder’s grandmother is a local Granny Witch, relied on for help delivering babies, making herbal remedies, tending to the sick—and sometimes serving up a fatal dose of revenge when she deems it worthy. Hyper-religious, she rules Weatherly with an iron fist; because Weatherly has a rare and covetable gift: she’s a Death Talker. Weatherly, when called upon, can talk the death out of the dying; only once, never twice. But in her short twenty years on this Earth this gift has taken a toll, rooting her to the small town that only wants her around when they need her and resents her backwater ways when they don’t—and how could she ever leave, if it meant someone could die while she was gone?

Weatherly’s best friend and cousin, Adaire, also has a gift: she’s a Scryer; she can see the future reflected back in a dark surface, usually her scrying pan. Right before she’s hit and in a bicycle accident, Adaire saw something unnerving in the pan, that much Weatherly knows, and she is certain this is why the mayor killed her cousin—she doesn’t believe for a moment that it was an accident. But when the mayor’s son lays dying and Weatherly, for the first time, is unable to talk the death of him, the whole town suspects she was out for revenge, that she wouldn’t save him. Weatherly, with the help of Adaire’s spirit, sets out to prove her own innocence and find Adaire’s killer, no matter what it takes.

Review

Well! This is not your usual story! Weatherly has a unique gift. She is a death talker. She can talk people out of dying. Being from rural Georgia and the Appalachian mountains, Weatherly is used to superstitions and strange behavior. Her grandmother is considered a witch of the region and has raised Weatherly but she has also used her and her gift. When Weatherly’s cousin Adaire was hit by a car and killed, Weatherly knows she must use everything in her power to find out what happened even if it alienates everyone around her.

I really enjoyed this unique novel. I was captivated by Weatherly and her gift. Talk about a strange family and strange situations. Weatherly is truly gifted, but she is also a bit abused by her grandmother. As she gets older, she realizes, her grandmother has not been truthful and has kept many secrets.

This story is rich with superstitions and a bit of the supernatural. It also has fabulous characters and a good mystery to boot!

Need a unique tale with a bit of sorcery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Author Bio:

Dana Elmendorf was born and raised in small town in Tennessee. She now lives in Southern California with her husband, two boys and two dogs. When she isn’t exercising, she can be found geeking out with Mother Nature. After four years of college and an assortment of jobs, she wrote a contemporarty YA novel. This is her adult debut.

Social Links:

Author website: https://www.danaelmendorf.com/p/home.html 

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12099732.Dana_Elmendorf  

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

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

Buy Links:

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/in-the-hour-of-crows-dana-elmendorf?variant=41105349050402 

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-the-hour-of-crows-original-dana-elmendorf/20588600?ean=9780778310495

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-hour-of-crows-dana-elmendorf/1144020590?ean=9780778310495 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=in+the+hour+of+crows&i=stripbooks&crid=2L6W8I50ZU8NA&sprefix=in+the+hour+of+crow%2Cstripbooks%2C93&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 

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Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate @randomhouse # bookreview

Overview

Wingate’s stellar latest (after Before We Were Yours) explores a centuries-long legacy of missing child cases. . . . Her portrayal of the region’s history, culture, and landscape enthralls. Wingate is at the top of her game.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a sweeping novel inspired by the untold history of women pioneers who fought to protect children caught in the storm of land barons hungry for power and oil wealth.

Oklahoma, 1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley knows that her stepfather doesn’t have good intentions toward the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home as wards. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees to the woods, taking six-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the notorious territory of outlaws, treasure hunters, and desperate men. Along the way, Ollie and Nessa form an unlikely band with others like themselves, struggling to stay one step ahead of those who seek to exploit them . . . or worse.

Oklahoma, 1990. Law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at newly minted Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to balance a career and single parenthood. But no sooner has Valerie reported for duty than she’s faced with local controversy over the park’s opening, a teenage hiker gone missing from one of the trails, and the long-hidden burial site of three children unearthed in a cave. Val’s quest for the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but soon collides with old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself.

In this emotional and enveloping novel, Lisa Wingate traces the story of children abandoned by the law and the battle to see justice done. Amid times of deep conflict over who owns the land and its riches, Ollie and Val traverse the rugged and beautiful terrain, each leaving behind one life in search of another.

Review

This is told in two different time periods. And for me, the present day was the most enjoyable. This is rare for me. But I really enjoyed Valerie. She struggles as a single mother and a new woman on the National Park Team. She handles these challenges with strength and intelligence.

Then there is 1909 Oklahoma. Ollie and Nessa leave an abusive situation and head up to Winding Stair Mountain. Every twist and turn lead these young girls into danger. But, boy…Nessa! She does not take no for an answer and she does not let grass grow under her feet. She knows they are in danger and she is the only one that can get them there.

This story is emotional and intriguing. Ollie and Nessa and their flight for safety will tear your heart up. Then there is Valerie. She is determined to find out what is going on in her National Park!

Need a good mystery with fantastic characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé @harlequinbooks #bookreview #historicalfiction

Overview

The library is under lock and key. But its secrets can’t be contained.

1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence’s father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester.

Intercepting her father’s latest commission, Florence talks her way into the forbidding Rose Hall to restore its rare books. Lord Francis Belfield’s library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife… 

Evocative, arresting and tightly plotted, The Library Thief is at once a propulsive Gothic mystery and a striking exploration of race, gender and self-discovery in Victorian England. 

Review

Florence has been kicked out by her father. She has come across a letter to her father, a book binder, asking him to come and restore an old library. Florence decides to take this on her own and heads to Rose Hall. But she soon discovers many secrets!

I started to read this book physically and I just couldn’t get into it. So, I got it on audio from the library. I have a bit more patience with an audiobook. I did finish it but it was not a favorite.

When this book begins, your heart goes out to Florence but as the story moves along, I just didn’t like her very much. Then there is the middle section. Now, I am not a prude, but there were like 2-3 chapters that were just about Florence and her past sexual experiences. (She is a bit of a harlot 😂😂). I was like…why are we talking about this now. 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Now, I did enjoy the time period of Victorian England and learning about the hidden race in some of the characters. Pretty unique…all the lies surrounding some of the characters. The story itself is a bit spastic and scattered.

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

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London Falling by Chanel Cleeton #bookreview @harlequinbooks

Overview

The smoldering connection between Maggie and Samir sparks into flame at London’s International School in London Falling, now available for the first time in print!

When Maggie Carpenter left the seductive glitz of London for summer break in her small South Carolina hometown, she walked away from the most intense encounter of her life. But now that she’s returned to the International School—and sexy, privileged Samir Khouri is once again close enough to touch—she can’t help but remember the attraction, the drama…the heartbreak.

Samir can’t afford to fall for someone so far removed from his world, not when his time in London is running out. It’s his last chance at freedom before he returns home to Lebanon, where he’ll be expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. But when a scorching secret hookup with Maggie becomes a temptation neither one can resist, they’ll both have to fight to survive the consequences…if they want a future together.

Review

Maggie has fallen for Samir, her best friend’s brother. But, he comes from a different world. He is expected to go back to Lebanon and follow in his father’s footsteps. Samir’s time in London is coming to a close. Can these young lovers survive the consequences if they fight to stay together.

Y’all know I very seldom read a blurb. Well, I should have read this one. I really enjoy this author and I saw her name on this book and jumped at it. This is not exactly what I expected. It is almost a young adult romance.

Y’all take this review with a grain of salt and you read it for yourself! First off, I was not in the mood for a romance! I am a moody reader so there were several places I almost eye-rolled. Also, this is part of a series, I have not read the others in the series and I probably should have before this one! I did not feel very connected to the characters and I wanted them to make better decisions.

I feel like this is a rant but it was just unexpected content for me. And that is on me! And I do enjoy this author, just not this series by her. Read this and form your own opinion.

Need a romance set in London…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay #audiobookreview @macmillanaudio @minotaurbooks

Overview

This program features multicast narration.

From “one of the genre’s most exciting voices” (E! News) comes one of the year’s most-anticipated thrillers.

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken.

With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school. He’s put his past behind him.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali’s car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali’s handwriting: If something happens to me…

Then, halfway around the world, the unthinkable happens: Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night.

As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany, to a rural village in the UK, to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth, he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case, and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.

In classic Alex Finlay form, If Something Happens to Me is told by several distinct, compelling characters whose paths intersect, detonating into a story of twist after pulse-pounding twist. The novel cements Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

Review

When Ryan’s high school girlfriend comes up missing, he is the prime suspect. As he grows older, he changes his name and even goes to law school. He tries so hard to stay incognito. So, when her car is found in a lake and two unknown male bodies are discovered, Ryan’s world implodes.

Ryan has always been in love with Ali. So, he knows what he must do when a deputy sheriff from Kansas reaches out. And let me tell you…the surprises just keep coming.

This book keeps you on your toes. There are so many ways this story could have unfolded. My brain was going a mile a minute with scenarios. I love when an author keeps the story twisting and turning. This tale definitely does that!

The narrators, Helen Laser; John Pirhalla; Paul Dateh, are the absolute best! I have said this before and I will say this again, I absolutely love a production in an audiobook!

Need a good thriller which will keep you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Camino Ghosts by John Grisham @doubledaybooks @johngrisham #bookreview

Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham takes you back to Camino Island where bookseller Bruce Cable and novelist Mercer Mann always manage to find trouble in paradise.

In this new thriller on Camino Island, popular bookseller Bruce Cable tells Mercer Mann an irresistible tale that might be her next novel. A giant resort developer is using its political muscle and deep pockets to claim ownership of a deserted island between Florida and Georgia. Only the last living inhabitant of the island, Lovely Jackson, stands in its way. What the developer doesn’t know is that the island has a remarkable history, and locals believe it is cursed…and the past is never the past…

Review

A multi million dollar company has decided to build a giant resort on a deserted island between Florida and Georgia. But, Lovely Jackson stands in their way. She is the last surviving descendent of that island which has a remarkable history and is possibly cursed.

Lovely Jackson and her story just reels the reader in! I love this mystery and all the history surrounding this deserted island. The history is truly fascinating! Add in Lovely and her curse…and it is a read you won’t soon forget! And don’t think Lovely didn’t have the opposing lawyers number…oh she did!

This story started out strong with the intensity you expect from John Grisham. But the ending, it felt a bit rushed and not with the punch I expect from this author. But, I love John Grisham’s writing. No fluff just facts and fantastic characters.

Need a great story with sensational characters and incredible history mixed in…THIS IS IT!

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

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Southern Man by Greg Iles #bookreview @wmmorrowbooks @gregiles

Overview

Greg Iles is one of America’s great storytellers.” –Stephen King, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A first-rate political thriller.”–John Grisham, #1 New York Times bestselling author

The hugely anticipated new Penn Cage novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Natchez Burning trilogy and Cemetery Road, about a man—and a town—rocked by anarchy and tragedy, but unbowed in the fight to save those they love

Fifteen years after the events of the Natchez Burning trilogy, Penn Cage is alone. Nearly all his loved ones are dead, his old allies gone, and he carries a mortal secret that separates him from the world. But Penn’s exile comes to an end when a brawl at a Mississippi rap festival triggers a bloody mass shooting—one that nearly takes the life of his daughter Annie.

As the stunned cities of Natchez and Bienville reel, antebellum plantation homes continue to burn and the deadly attacks are claimed by a Black radical group as historic acts of justice. Panic sweeps through the tourist communities, driving them inexorably toward a race war.

But what might have been only a regional sideshow of the 2024 Presidential election explodes into national prominence, thanks to the stunning ascent of Robert E. Lee White, a Southern war hero who seizes the public imagination as a third-party candidate. Dubbed “the Tik-Tok Man,” and funded by an eccentric Mississippi billionaire, Bobby White rides the glory of his Special Forces record to an unprecedented run at the White House—one unseen since the campaign of H. Ross Perot.

To triumph over the national party machines, Bobby evolves a plan of unimaginable daring. One fateful autumn weekend, with White set to declare his candidacy in all fifty states, the forces polarizing America line up against one another: Black vs. white, states vs. the federal government, democracy vs. Fascism. Teaming with his fearless daughter (now a civil rights lawyer) and a former Black Panther who spent most of his life in Parchman Prison, Penn tears into Bobby White’s pursuit of the Presidency and ultimately risks a second Civil War to try to expose its motivation to the world, before the America of our Constitution slides into the abyss.

In Southern Man, Greg Iles returns to the riveting style and historic depth that made the Natchez Burning trilogy a searing masterpiece and hurls the narrative fifteen years forward into our current moment—where America itself teeters on the brink of anarchy.

Review

Robert E. Lee White, internet sensation, has enough petition signatures to get him on every state as a presidential candidate. He has a polarizing effect on the nation and will pit Americans against each other. But, Penn understands what is about to happen and he does everything, including risking his life, to stop this madman.

Y’all know this is one of my favorite authors. And he has outdone himself with this one. Of course, I think I say that with every one of his books. But this book, especially the ending, had me all in knots! I was terrified with where this story was going to end up!

As in true Greg Iles fashion, he incorporates some of the best mix of good and bad southern characters. So, there is also racism, politics, arson, and murder thrown into this unique tale you do not want to miss.

Now, as I always say about his books. These are smart reads. You cannot skim. If you do, you will miss something vital and have to backtrack (speaking from experience!) This novel, as with all his novels, you need to pay attention to every detail because it will be the detail you need to know! Trust me!

Need a good southern novel with a little bit of everything…THIS IS IT!

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

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