reecaspieces

Overview

Finding family is a journey of love, risk, secrets, and healing in a powerful novel by the bestselling author of A Brighter Flame, The Passing Storm, and The Road She Left Behind.

When Nova Doubeck is asked to foster two children, she can’t say no. With her own childhood wounds healed by adoptive parents, Nova understands the rewards of a caring guardian—even an impermanent one. But nine-year-old Henry and his seven-year-old sister, Bella, are more than Nova bargained for.

Combative Henry is at risk of becoming like his abusive father, Egan Croy. Timid Bella, clutching a tin box of treasures, cowers at the slightest noise. Yet Nova gradually earns their trust and affection as they bring unexpected love and joy to her guarded life. Now she can’t help but wonder: How will she stop her heart from breaking when the time comes to say goodbye?

As Egan aggressively battles to regain control over the children, Nova’s protective instincts prove just as fierce. In fighting to save Henry and Bella, she’ll unlock the secrets hidden in their past—and learn more about herself and the true meaning of family than anyone imagined.

Review

Nova owns her on landscaping business. She also is a foster mom. She has only fostered teenagers. So, when she is asked to take two young siblings in for an emergency placing, she hedges a little bit. She has never fostered young kids.

Henry is the older of the two at 9 years old. When he shows up at Nova’s, he is a tough, combative little boy. His little sister, Bella, is just as sweet as she can be but so timid. Nova knows she has her work cut out for her.

Nova is a character I adored. She is exactly what these two abused children need, a loving heart and home. Nova begins to crack each child’s shell with her patience. And soon Nova loses her heart as well. She knows she is not supposed to get close to these children. She knows she is going to lose them.

This story takes you through all the emotions. Egan, the children’s father, has my anger up in a snap. And the way he manipulates his children…I wanted to come through these pages. Then there is a secret about Nova no one knew…but it comes out. And it just takes her on an emotional roller coaster.

Need a heartfelt story which will have you hugging everyone in your family…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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Overview

Evocative and transportive, filled with nuance and spiked with the violence of war, Darkness Calls the Tiger is a story of redemption in the midst of hopelessness.”
–Tosca Lee, New York Times best-selling author

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japan devours the southern portion of Burma, intent on taking over mainland Asia. Unaware of the coming darkness, Kailyn Moran drifts in her role as the only daughter of a widowed missionary.

As whispers of war snake through the Kachin mountains, Kai’s father is convinced God will protect the mission. He entrusts the village to her and the kind yet inexperienced new missionary, Ryan McDonough, while he makes routine visits to neighboring villages.

War descends like a tempest upon the mountain peaks, and an unbreakable bond forms between Kailyn and Ryan as they unite to provide solace to both villagers and the flood of refugees. Despite their tireless efforts, a brutal enemy shatters almost everything they love, pushing Kailyn to embark on a path of unrestrained vengeance.

Afraid he’s losing the woman he loves, Ryan fights to protect Kai from the deadly consequences of her choices. But in the face of destruction, can he convince her of the power and freedom of forgiveness?

Review

Kai is a daughter of a missionary. She killed a tiger when she was very young so she has a stigma that follows her. Kai’s father just knows the Lord will protect the village from Japanese invaders. But, this is not the case. Kai does everything she can but it is enough?!?

What a fabulous character is Kai! She just goes through so much in her young life. But, she never gives up. Did she possibly make some bad choices, yes, but there were reasons. I cannot imagine going through what this girl goes through in this novel and survive.

This is a unique tale set in Burma during WWII. I had no idea about what happened on this side of the world during this time period. So, to say I learned a lot is an understatement! This author did amazing research and some wonderful writing to bring this story to life!

Need a different tale about WWII…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

Based on true events, Tomorrow Is for the Brave is a gripping World War II page‑turner about a courageous woman who risks it all for what is right—perfect for fans of Natasha Lester and Kristen Harmel.

1939, France: Lavish parties, fast cars, and a closet full of the latest fashion—to the average eye, socialite Violet St. Croix seemingly has it all. But what she truly wants is a life full of meaning and purpose. So when France falls to Germany, Violet defies her parents’ wishes and joins the war effort.  With her impeccable skill for driving under pressure, she is soon sent to North Africa to shepherd French Foreign Legion officers carrying valuable intelligence through dangerous territory.

But as the Allies encounter one mishap after another, Violet becomes convinced there is a spy in their ranks. And when her commanding officer is murdered, Violet realizes she might be the only one who can uncover the traitor and save the lives of countless soldiers on the front lines. Convincing others to believe her is difficult enough. Finding someone she can trust just might be impossible.

Review

Violet is a socialite on the cusp of WWII. She soon realizes that she knows nothing about the world. She breaks off her engagement, signs up to be a nurse, and gets disowned by her parents all in one swoop!

It does not take Violet long to realize nursing is not for her. Luckily a bomb raid saved her from this situation when she drove an ambulance. No one expected a woman to know how to drive. This changed her roll in the French Foreign Legion.

First off, I do not think I have ever read a book about the FFL during WWII. Where have I been??? This story is well researched and the characters are amazing. When Violet comes out of her shell, she takes no prisoners. Talk about strong and brave!

I read this book in a day and a half. I cannot tell y’all how good this book is. You MUST read it for yourself!

Need a book which will have you gasping for air…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

One man is about to have a midlife crisis like no man has ever had before. But for his wife, the nightmare is just beginning…
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Haley is awakened early one morning by two police officers at the door. She has no idea that her husband has been living a secret life during his daily commute from Scarsdale into the city. Now Guy is the prime suspect in a brutal murder that could derail Linda’s high-powered career and may be connected to a cold case.

And Guy has disappeared.

With a warrant out for her husband’s arrest, Linda sets out to prove his innocence accompanied by an ex-cop who harbors a secret affection for her. Together, they travel to the scene of a forty-year-old unsolved murder and a night of violence that shattered the serenity of a small fishing hamlet just past the Hamptons.

But as the manhunt intensifies and she begins to uncover the shocking truth—and the past Guy has buried deep—Linda must decide if the stranger she married is innocent or guilty. And if he truly deserves to be saved.

Featuring tense, atmospheric suspense that moves at breakneck speed, this Hitchcockian thriller careens from a bedroom community just north of New York City to the picturesque beaches of eastern Long Island to a suburban train station, where a killer hiding in plain sight waits to exact a final revenge.

Review

Guy has met a gorgeous woman on the commuter train to and from work. He becomes entangled in her drama. Her boyfriend is beating her. He is sure of that. He will not tolerate that because of his Mom and past trauma. Now, Guy is the prime suspect in a murder.

When this book began, I almost DNFed it. I hated Guy almost from the get go! I thought, I am not reading this if he is going to be as bad as I think! But then…it got better and better and better!

I became completely captivated in the mystery of this tale. I will try not to give anything away, but the more this tale unfolds the more of a guessing game it is! And Linda! She is rock solid for her husband from start to finish. She never gives up!

Need a fast paced thriller with a twist…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

A historical drama based on the Battle of Blair Mountain, pitting a multi-ethnic army of 10,000 coal miners against mine owners, state militia, and the United States government in the largest labor uprising in American history.

Rednecks is a tour de force, big canvas historical novel that dramatizes the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars—from the Matewan Massacre through the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War, when some one million rounds were fired, bombs were dropped on Appalachia, and the term “redneck” would come to have an unexpected origin story.

Brimming with the high stakes drama of America’s buried history, Rednecks tells a powerful story of rebellion against oppression. In a land where the coal companies use violence and intimidation to keep miners from organizing, “Doc Moo” Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the author’s own great-grandfather), toils amid the blood and injustice of the mining camps. When Frank Hugham, a Black World War One veteran and coal miner, takes dramatic steps to lead a miners’ revolt with a band of fellow veterans, Doc Moo risks his life and career to treat sick and wounded miners, while Frank’s grandmother, Beulah, fights her own battle to save her home and grandson. Real-life historical figures burn bright among the hills: the fiery Mother Jones, an Irish-born labor organizer once known as “The Most Dangerous Woman in America,” struggles to maintain the ear of the miners (“her boys”) amid the tide of rebellion, while the sharp-shooting police chief “Smilin” Sid Hatfield dares to stand up to the “gun thugs” of the coal companies, becoming a folk hero of the mine wars.

Award-winning novelist Taylor Brown brings to life one of the most compelling events in 20th century American history, reminding us of the hard-won origins of today’s unions. Rednecks is a propulsive, character-driven tale that’s both a century old and blisteringly contemporary: a story of unexpected friendship, heroism in the face of injustice, and the power of love and community against all odds.

Review

This is the story of the Battle on Blair Mountain. This is where an army of 10,000 coal miners battle mine owners, state militia, and the United States government in the largest labor uprising in American history. A powerful story of rebellion against oppression.

This tale is full of great historical detail and unique characters! I knew some of how the redneck term came about, but I did not know all. What these coal miners went through to get safe practices and fair wages is mind boggling.

I did find the tale a bit redundant and repetitive in places. This is a minor issue, I learned such a great deal!

Need a well researched novel about a tale most of us have forgotten about…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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Overview

Historical fiction of the highest order . . . an absolute joy of a book, warm and romantic, and with so much to say about the lives of women in the years following World War I.”—Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

A timeless comedy of manners—refreshing as a summer breeze and bracing as the British seaside—about a generation of young women facing the seismic changes brought on by war and dreaming of the boundless possibilities of their future, from the bestselling author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

It is the summer of 1919 and Constance Haverhill is without prospects. Now that all the men have returned from the front, she has been asked to give up her cottage and her job at the estate she helped run during the war. While she looks for a position as a bookkeeper or—horror—a governess, she’s sent as a lady’s companion to an old family friend who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. Despite having only weeks to find a permanent home, Constance is swept up in the social whirl of Hazelbourne-on-Sea after she rescues the local baronet’s daughter, Poppy Wirrall, from a social faux pas.

Poppy wears trousers, operates a taxi and delivery service to employ local women, and runs a ladies’ motorcycle club (to which she plans to add flying lessons). She and her friends enthusiastically welcome Constance into their circle. And then there is Harris, Poppy’s recalcitrant but handsome brother—a fighter pilot recently wounded in battle—who warms in Constance’s presence. But things are more complicated than they seem in this sunny pocket of English high society. As the country prepares to celebrate its hard-won peace, Constance and the women of the club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms they gained during the war are being revoked.

Whip-smart and utterly transportive, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is historical fiction of the highest order: an unforgettable coming-of-age story, a tender romance, and a portrait of a nation on the brink of change

Review

Poppy runs a taxi and delivery service and hopes to add flying lessons soon. She employs local women. But now that the men are home from the Great War, everyone expects women to go back to worrying about manners and clothes. But, Poppy refuses to relinquish what little freedom she has uncovered.

Oh! These characters are so great! I just love Poppy! But honestly, it takes all of these young characters to make this story entertaining. Each character, Poppy, Iris, Constance and Harris, have a great story surrounding them. The way these people learn to ignore the noise, so to speak, just made this book so wonderful! Talk about non-conformity!

Need an adorable tale about strong women…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

New York Times bestselling author Caroline Leavitt returns with a tantalizing, courageous story about mothers and daughters, guilt and innocence, and the lengths we go for love.

As a teenager, for a moment, Ella Fitchburg found love—yearning, breathless love—that consumed both her and her boyfriend, Jude, as they wandered the streets of New York City together. But her glorious life was pulled out from beneath her after she was accused of trying to murder Jude’s father, an imperious superior court judge. When she learns she’s pregnant shortly after receiving a long prison sentence, she reluctantly decides to give up the child.

Ella is released from prison after serving only six years and is desperate to turn the page on a new life, but she can’t seem to let go of her past. With only an address as a possible lead, she moves to Ann Arbor, Michigan, determined to get her daughter back. Hiding her identity and living in a constant state of deception, she finds that what she’s been searching for all along is a way to uncover—and live with—the truth. Yet a central mystery endures: neither Jude nor Ella can remember the events leading up to the attempted murder—that fateful night which led to Ella’s conviction.

For fans of Miranda Cowley Heller’s The Paper Palace and Allegra Goodman’s Sam, Caroline Leavitt’s Days of Wonder is a gripping high-drama page-turner about the elusive nature of redemption and the profound reach of love. 

Review

Ella has been accused of attempted murder and put in prison as a teenager. She has lost her boyfriend and her child. Luckily someone found her case and discovered how railroaded she was during her interrogation by the police. So, she has been released early. She moves to Ann Arbor, MI to start her new life. Things do not go as well as she plans.

There are places in this story where you know what is about to happen so you have to stop a minute and catch your breath. Ella is so mistreated by life and her struggles are so real it will rip your heart out.

Now, did I know what actually occurred during her murder confession…YES! Did I also know who caused all of this before the author told me…YES! This is the only reason for the 4 star rating. I saw everything coming a mile away. Plus, the ending is a bit “tied up in a pretty bow” But dang! This tale is good!

Need a story which will take your heart from top to bottom and back again…THIS IS IT!

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

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