reecaspieces

Overview

A sharp-witted and illuminating, impressive sophomore novel.” – Isaac Blum, author of the award-nominated The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen

Two half-siblings who have never met embark on a search together for the Iranian immigrant and U.S. Army veteran father they never knew.

Samira Murphy will do anything to keep her fractured family from falling apart, including caring for her widowed grandmother and getting her older brother into recovery for alcohol addiction. With attendance at her dream college on the line, she takes a long shot DNA test to find the support she so desperately needs from a father she hasn’t seen since she was a baby.

Henry Owen is torn between his well-meaning but unreliable bio-mom and his overly strict aunt and uncle, who stepped in to raise him but don’t seem to see him for who he is. Looking to forge a stronger connection to his own identity, he takes a DNA test to find the one person who might love him for exactly who he is—the biological father he never knew.

Instead of a DNA match with their father, Samira and Henry are matched with each other. They begin to search for their father together and slowly unravel the difficult truth of their shared past, forming a connection that only siblings can have and recovering precious parts of their past that have been lost. Brimming with emotional resonance, Susan Azim Boyer’s The Search for Us beautifully renders what it means to find your place in the world through the deep and abiding power of family.

Review

Henry and Samira both take DNA tests for very different reasons. Samira wants to find her father because she needs the money he would owe in child support. Henry just wants to know where he came from and more about his family. These two soon discover their connection as half siblings and this sends them on a quest and it turns into more than just finding their father. It turns into a new found family and friendship.

These children have been through so much because of bad decisions from everyone around them. Henry has been raised by very tough parents…his aunt and uncle. His real mom is in the picture but both his moms fight like cats and dogs. He just does not feel like he is loved or understood. Then there is Samira. Samira has been put in charge as the family fixer. Her bother stays in trouble because he is a drunk and cannot stay sober. When he nearly kills someone with his car, the judge orders him to an in-house recovery center. Samira must default on her college to pay for it.

I usually do not read teen or young adult books. Boy! Would I have missed a jewel! This book is emotional, unique and just powerful. This story had my emotions all over the place…mad, sad, scared and then mad all over again!

Need a deep and forceful novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author John Grisham delivers high-flying international suspense in a stunning new legal thriller that marks the return of Mitch McDeere, the brilliant hero of The Firm.

What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke and fled the country? The answer is in The Exchange, the riveting sequel to The Firm, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of America’s favorite storyteller. It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. Mitch has become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to hide.

Review

Mitch has been asked to take a case in Libya. He only takes the case because his mentor has asked him. Mitch, like many of his colleagues, is not a big fan of the Middle East. When his associate lawyer is kidnapped, he knows he and his family are in extreme danger.

No one does thrillers quite like John Grisham. Now, this one does not move as fast as The Firm but it is still one I moved through like lightening. This story has twists and turns and money…lots of money changing hands. But, never fear, Mitch is smart! So, with a little luck, intelligence and some very strategic connections, Mitch knows he will bring his associate home…OR WILL HE!

Need a quick thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

The baseball diamond provides Theodore Cobb Hunter his only true sanctuary. Positioned to cash in on a record-breaking free-agent contract and driven to rescue the game from its tainted past, he’s got money, fame, looks, and the girl of his dreams. However, episodes of insomnia and strange visitations throw his life into turmoil; forced to navigate between the real and the conjured, the rising superstar is faced with a dilemma. Can one man satisfy the expectations of past legends? Or will his unrelenting burden drive him to the brink as his ghostly visitors unveil their true purpose?

Immortal is an engrossing tale of a premier athlete asked to be so much more than a sports hero. The game and the country’s immutable traditions run in harmony, and one man just might be responsible for saving both.

Review

Theodore is on top of the world. He has it all and with free agency looming, he can just about write his own contract. But, he is having some strange visions and insomnia. This is causing some major disturbances in his life and his career. Can Theodore figure out what is going on before his life falls apart.

There are quite a few things I enjoyed about this book. But first, let’s talk about what I did not like. It is way too political for my tastes. I read to get away from that stuff. But, like I always do…I skimmed those parts and moved to the good parts! And there are several areas I loved. I loved how the author wove in the good ole baseball boys of the past. He knows his stuff! I also enjoyed learning about how there is so much more to the game besides what we see on the field…the workouts, the money, the deals…this book is full of all things baseball.

Need a good baseball book to get you through the off season…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

Most people wouldn’t buy an infamous murder house to renovate for fun . . . but Sarah Slade is not most people.

“This debut novel deftly explores our shadows—the dark parts of ourselves we don’t want others to see. I couldn’t stop reading.”—Julia Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat

A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah Slade has just bought a gorgeous Victorian in the community of her dreams. Turns out, you can get a killer deal on a house where someone was murdered. Plus, renovating Black Wood House makes for great blog content and a decent distraction from her failing marriage. Good thing nobody knows that her past is just as filthy as the bloodstain on her bedroom floor.

But the renovations are fast becoming a nightmare. Sarah imagined custom avocado wallpaper, massive profits, and an appreciative husband who wants to share her bed again. Instead, the neighbors hate her guts and her husband still sleeps on the couch. And though the builders attempt to cover up Black Wood’s horrifying past, a series of bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic only confirms for Sarah what the rest of the town already knew: Something is very wrong in that house.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. But as she peels back the curling wallpaper and discovers the house’s secrets, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House has only just begun.

Review

Sarah has just purchased a fixer upper. It is a beautiful Victorian home in a well sought after neighborhood. It is also the famous Black Wood House. An illustrious murder/suicide took place in this house. And the more Sarah delves into the renovations, the more she believes something is just plain wrong with this house!

Sarah is a character that I thought was a bit of a conundrum. I found her a bit selfish and pushy one minute and caring the next. But, sit tight…the story will reveal its secrets as it moves along.

Now y’all, this is just my opinion, but this book was a bit of a mess. It felt like it started as a creepy tale then the author changed her mind and wanted to write a psychological thriller. I guess both can be a possibility, but it just was not very smooth in the twists and turns. Now, don’t take my word for it. It is worth the read. I did stay interested in the story. I just had questions that went unanswered.

Need a creepy tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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