Activate Your Greatness by Alex Toussaint #selfhelp #audiobookreview @henryholt @macmillanaudio

Posted on October 13, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

This program is read by the author.

Alex Toussaint, the rising Peloton star who counts everyone from Roger Federer and the Golden State Warriors to the Today Show’s Carson Daly as fans, hops off the bike and gives listeners the inspiration and motivation they need to activate their greatness in every aspect of their lives.

Alex Toussaint is known for his grueling workouts where he promises “to kick your ass”–yet thousands keep coming back for more. Why? Because he might be the most motivational teacher out there right now. His mantra is “Feel good, Look Good, Do Better.” He expects more from you, and from himself. Yet so much of what he talks about is NOT about the bike.

Alex’s enthusiasm for life is infectious–“You woke up today!” “Breathe in confidence, exhale doubt.” Because Alex knows what it is like to be overlooked and undervalued, to be the underdog. He knows what it’s like to not expect the best from yourself. The child of Haitian immigrants who sacrificed so much to give him an education, he knows what it is like to be one of the few Black kids growing up in East Hampton. After a turbulent adolescence that saw him being sent to military school, Toussaint dropped out of college and was mopping floors at a gym. A few years later, he’s one of the most iconic cycling instructors on Peloton, helping thousands of users along their fitness journeys through his inspirational workouts.

Finally, Alex gets off the bike to help listeners activate their own greatness in every aspect of their lives. Part self-help, part memoir, Activate Your Greatness details Toussaint’s mental and physical practices, on and off the bike, that have influenced his daily habits, fueled his motivation, and that have ultimately contributed to his astronomical success and shows listeners how they can do the same.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

Review

Alex has had his struggles in life. And he definitely found his calling but it just took him a while to get there.

This is not my genre at all. I can honestly say, I have maybe read three self help books, including this one, in my reading life. And this one reads more as a memoir, which is probably why I enjoyed it. As a self help book, he has some great quotes and inspiration but it is more about his life and how he dug himself out of a hole and into a work out coach and entrepreneur, by hard work and gumption!

I received a package that contained the audiobook code from the publisher and I hopped on it. When I read that he is narrating the book himself, I knew that was the format for me. I really love when an author narrates their own work. Alex has an excellent voice. It is deep and rich and he expresses his feelings so well. Highly recommend listening to this book.

Need and inspirational read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

Bookbub

Chirp

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Final Witness by Paul Landis #nonfiction #audiobookreview @dreamscapeaudio

Posted on October 12, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

Dallas, Texas. November 22, 1963. Shots ring out at Dealey Plaza. The president is struck in the head by a rifle bullet. Confusion reigns.

Special Agent Paul Landis is in the follow-up car directly behind JFK’s and is at the president’s limo as soon as it stops at Parkland Memorial Hospital. He is inside Trauma Room #1, where the president is pronounced dead. He is on Air Force One with the president’s casket on the flight back to Washington, DC, an eyewitness to Lyndon Johnson taking the oath of office. What he saw is indelibly imprinted upon his psyche. He writes and files his report. And yet, Agent Landis is never called to testify to the Warren Commission. The one person who could have supplied key answers is never asked questions. By mid-1964, the nightmares from Dallas remain, and he resigns. It isn’t until the fiftieth anniversary that he begins to talk about it and reads his first books on the assassination.

Landis learns about the raging conspiracy theories—and realizes where they all go wrong.

Review

Special Agent Paul Landis was in the follow up car during President Kennedy’s assassination. He will never forget his experience or the trauma he suffered because of this reality. This is the story of his eyewitness account and his life as an agent.

I fluctuated between 3-4 stars on this one. This is more of a 3.5 star read. So I rounded up. I expected so much more about the assassination. I felt there were quite a few inconsistencies. For instance, the bullet found by the author but never really turned into anyone or discussed in detail with the powers that be. He just placed it on the gurney.

I did enjoy learning about his role in guarding the grandchildren of President Eisenhower and the Kennedy family. The information about the general lives of the Kennedys is also fascinating. It is the best part of the book! This book is more about Paul Landis’ life as an agent rather than the assassination.

This is narrated by Lane Hakel. He definitely kept the story moving.

Need a good book about the life of a Secret Service agent…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

Chirp

BookBub

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

All Who Wander by Joe Clifford #bookreview #thriller

Posted on October 11, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

One snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy’s car slides off the road in rural Vermont. Her car is discovered. She is not. Twenty-one years later, Robert Kirby, Brooke’s stepbrother, is paid a visit from a young woman (Lily), claiming to be Brooke’s daughter. Since a tumultuous upbringing, Robert, formerly known as “Bobby,” has enjoyed considerable success. Now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, Robert has just received a significant NEH grant. After Lily’s visit, Robert’s life is upended.

His wife Stephanie reveals she is unhappy in the marriage and takes their teenage son to visit her sister in PA. Brooke’s former best friend, Aaron Reardon, still devastated from Brooke’s disappearance, offers to help. And forever lurking in the background is Mike Rakowski, Brooke’s ex, a possessive, abusive drug addict.

As Robert’s world unravels, he revisits that night twenty-one years ago where everything went wrong, unearthing a horrible, bone-chilling secret. In the vein of Simone St. James’ Sun Down Motel and other female-driven domestic psychological thrillers today, All Who Wander mines the depths of past transgression, begging the question: do past sins automatically negate future happiness?

Review

Robert’s sister, Brooke, has been missing for nearly 20 years. So, when a young lady shows up claiming to be Brooke’s daughter, Robert knows he must reopen old wounds and a past he is not ready to face.

This story kept me on my toes. I knew something was hinky about Robert/Bobby and the disappearance of his sister Brooke. And there is more than one issue with her disappearance, there are multiple issues. And this novel just keeps building and building and THEN…You will have to read this to find out! And trust me! It is worth your time!

I am a huge fan of this author. All of his books are just a little bit different than the usual thriller. And this one is right up there with it. Now, I did feel the ending is a bit abrupt. But, my understanding is…there is going to be a sequel…I AM HERE FOR IT!

Need a good domestic, psychological thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Purchase Here

Amazon

BookBub

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

What We Could Have Been by Jess Sinclair #bookreview #audiobookreview @dreamscapeaudio

Posted on October 10, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

Bluebelle Shea and Enzo Castellari are hardly more than children when they fall in love, despite the objections of their families who have been at war for years. They don’t know the reason for the brutal rift, but nothing matters except the way they feel. Their hopeful plan for the future is shattered the night Blue’s mother drowns—and her father is arrested for murder.

Ten years later, fleeing a disastrous marriage, Blue returns home with her young son, Murphy. As she settles into the community once more, chance throws her together with Enzo, and she is startled by the rekindled attraction he stirs inside her.

Drawn together time and again, Blue and Enzo try to untangle years of conflicting emotions and bittersweet memories. When a frightening crisis strikes, Enzo doesn’t hesitate to come to Blue’s aid. Resolved to put the past behind them, they fight to learn not only what really happened the night Blue’s mother died but also the truth behind the destructive clash between their families.

At its heart, What We Could Have Been explores the bonds between families, friends, and lovers and poignantly illustrates the ways we can heal after betrayal. Suffused with detail and sentiment, this is a novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever fought for their own happy ending.

Review

Bluebell Shea has returned home after ten years away. Her marriage has fallen apart and she has nowhere else to go. She has run from her past long enough. But, she is not quite ready to face what she knows she must.

Blue is a fabulous character. She struggles with confidence (you need to read this to find out!) but she is stronger than she gives herself credit for. Plus, she is keeping a big secret from her past love, Enzo.

I really enjoyed how this novel unfolded. The past and the present molding together really kept me glued! There are quite a few storylines in this tale. But, the author keeps them twisting around each other until you are so immersed it is hard to stop reading!

The narrator, Nan McNamara, is fabulous. Sometimes children are a kicker for me. But she did a great job with Blue’s son, Murphy.

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

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

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

Chirp

BookBub

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Last Rites by Sharon Sala #audiobookreview #bookreview @dreamscapeaudio

Posted on October 9, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

Shirley Wallace and her four sons return to her childhood home on Pope Mountain in Jubilee, Kentucky, with a lifetime of hardship behind them, hoping to find peace and begin their lives anew. Eldest brother Aaron Pope returns to his life as a police officer and is settling in just fine. Then Aaron’s investigation into an attempted murder leads him right to Dani Owens. She may hold the key to a long-lost part of the Pope family’s past, and more importantly, she may hold the key to Aaron’s heart.

Review

Shirley and her four sons leave their past behind them and head back to Shirley’s childhood home. Her mother has recently passed and left them her house. It could not have come at a better time. This family has a lot of baggage to escape. It does not take them long to figure out that Jubilee, Kentucky and their family on Pope Mountain is just what the doctor ordered.

Y’all know I very seldom write bad reviews. But this book just was not for me. Now, I am totally in the minority! So, read it for yourself to form your own opinion.

This story is overly dramatic and way too sweet for me. But, this may be partly the narrator’s fault. I have never listened to Traci Odom before and I am not a big fan. She gets squeaky when Shirley would start to cry and there were several other places she got on my nerves.

The plot of this tale is pretty good though. This is what kept me listening. I enjoyed the hunt for the past! Finding the journal and then discovering a long lost grave…entertaining…no doubt!

Like I said before…I am in the minority. You read this book and form your own opinion.

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

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

BookBub

Chirp

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Slice of Courage Quiche by Jennifer Moorman #bookreview @suzyapbooktours

Posted on October 8, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

Real estate agent Tessa Andrews believes she has her life all figured out, organized in meticulously numbered lists to ensure she doesn’t make bad decisions. But after eating a breakfast quiche and receiving a skeleton key to a dilapidated mansion, a reckless impulse overtakes her.

When torrential rains flood Mystic Water, Tessa’s condo drowns in floodwater. In need of a temporary residence, Tessa moves into an empty apartment above the local diner owned by the Borellis. While trying to help people find lodging while the flood recedes, a client sends Tessa a package containing a tarnished key belonging to a neglected historic mansion that is now on the market, and a whole new set of troubles arises, starting with the return of the Borellis’ prodigal son.

Paul Borelli, a travel journalist, shows up unexpectedly in Mystic Water and claims the apartment above the diner where Tessa has been staying. Now in need of another place to live, Tessa’s love of historic homes overtakes her logic, and she tosses aside her numbered lists, unloads her savings account, and buys the mansion with the intention to bring the grand beauty back to life.

Nearly everyone doubts Tessa’s sanity, but along the way she finds unlikely support in an ancient Cherokee spear, a traveling mint plant, and a journalist on the run from his past. Filled with charm, unexpected twists, and a touch of magic, A Slice of Courage Quiche is an enchanting tale of listening to one’s heart, camping indoors, and how acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference.

Review

Torrential rains have flooded the town of Mystic Water and this includes Tessa’s condo and her car. Tessa moves into an empty apartment above the Borellis’ diner. But, in an unexpected turn of events, the Borellis’ prodigal son, Paul, returns home and surprises everyone. Now, Tessa is in search of another place to live when a skeleton key to a historic mansion shows up at her office.

Tessa is a fantastic character. When she starts driving the Great Pumpkin (a car her parents lend her), I cracked up! Then there is the old mansion. I could just picture it. I so wanted to go exploring. But don’t worry…Crazy Kate would have to be there too. You will have to read this to find out about this character!

Well, I am now going to have to go back and pick up this author’s other books. I enjoyed so much about this one! The characters, the snarkiness, the old house, the setting all melded together and created this charming tale. Oh…and don’t forget about Paul! Tessa and Paul have such a wonderful chemistry

Need an adorable, heartwarming read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Amazon

BookBub

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Intern by Michele Campbell #smpinfluencers @stmartinspress #bookreview

Posted on October 7, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in this timely and thrilling novel about class, ambition, family and murder.

Madison Rivera lands the internship of a lifetime working for Judge Kathryn Conroy. But Madison has a secret that could destroy her career. Her troubled younger brother Danny has been arrested, and Conroy is the judge on his case.

When Danny goes missing after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison’s quest for answers brings her deep into the judge’s glamorous world. Is Kathryn Conroy a mentor, a victim, or a criminal? Is she trying to help Madison or use her as a pawn? And why is somebody trying to kill her?

As the two women circle each other in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, will they save each other, or will betrayal leave one of them dead?

Review

Madison has landed the internship of a lifetime. She is going to be working with her favorite professor, Judge Kathryn Conroy. But, she has lied on her application. She just cannot tell the judge about her brother. But the deeper Madison gets into this job the more she realizes, it is not just her with secrets.

Boy! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! This story just keeps twisting around until you don’t know which way it will end! It is hard to describe because you just don’t want to give anything away…JUST READ IT!

I have been a fan of this author for quite a while. Her stories are always a labyrinth of turns. But don’t worry…it all comes out in the end. And this one is no different. This is a smart read…you blink, you will miss it!

Need an intricate tale of misdeeds and betrayals…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Amazon

BookBub

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly @macmillanaudio @minotaurbooks #historicalfiction #audiobookreview #bookreview

Posted on October 5, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

Calin’s versatile characterizations, subtle accents, and comfortable pacing capture this privileged world wherein modern ideas clash with traditional values” —AudioFile on The Last Dance of the Debutante

From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author ofThe Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series, A Traitor in Whitehall.

“Kelly spins an Agatha Christie-esque mystery . . . thoroughly delightful and well-researched.”—Susan Elia MacNeal

1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.

However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.

With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

Review

Evelyne has been asked by a family friend to apply for a job in one of Churchill’s war rooms. Not long after she gets settled into her new role, she discovers a dead body. This opens up a whole different set of sleuthing skills for Evelyne. Because not only does she have to find a murderer, she must discover a traitor to England as well.

Evelyne is a great character. She is tough and she sure doesn’t take kindly to certain policemen. They rub her the wrong way when they assume, because she is a woman, she will just faint at the sight of a dead body…and does she prove them wrong! Evelyne runs rings around these cops!

Now, this is not my favorite Julia Kelly novel. I seemed to have lost interest in the middle. But it sure ended strong! Julia Kelly is one of my go to historical fiction writers. Plus…she is a KNITTER! Y’all definitely need to add her to your list.

The narrator, Marisa Calin, is new to me. I don’t think I have ever listened to her before (shocker!). But, she did a great job with all the suspense and she was perfect as Evelyne…and even Churchill!

Need an Agatha Christie-like mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Audible

Amazon

BookBub

Chirp

Posted in Audible books, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon #bookreview @gallerybooks #thriller #suspense

Posted on October 4, 2023 by fredreeca

Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of the “otherworldly treat” (People) The Drowning Kind and The Children on the Hill returns with a spine-tingling psychological thriller about a woman who, after taking in her dying, alcoholic mother, begins to suspect demonic possession is haunting her family.

Alison has never been a fan of Christmas. But with it right around the corner and her husband busily decorating their cozy Vermont home, she has no choice but to face it. Then she gets the call.

Mavis, Alison’s estranged mother, has been diagnosed with cancer and has only weeks to live. She wants to spend her remaining days with her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. But Alison grew up with her mother’s alcoholism and violent abuse and is reluctant to unearth these traumatic memories. Still, she eventually agrees to take in Mavis, hoping that she and her mother could finally heal and have the relationship she’s always dreamed of.

But when mysterious and otherworldly things start happening upon Mavis’s arrival, Alison begins to suspect her mother is not quite who she seems. And as the holiday festivities turn into a nightmare, she must confront just how far she is willing to go to protect her family.

Review

Alison’s mother has been diagnosed with cancer. She wants to spend her last days with Alison and her family. Alison eventually says yes, but with an extreme amount of hesitation. There is so much trauma from her childhood and her abusive mother, Alison is torn on what is the right thing to do. And can she actually trust her mother to be around her children?

Well! My October has started strong! This book kept me on my toes! Let me tell you! Now, it is not going to be for everyone. And I am not a huge “horror” reader. I would not necessarily classify this as horror…I mean it is but it isn’t. You will have to read this to find out. I have read every single one of this author’s books and I have loved them all. She always has a “borderline” horror feel to her reads. So to say she is suspenseful is an understatement.

When this story started out, I was afraid I could not read it. It has some triggers that set off some childhood issues. But, as the story unfolded…I could not put it down. And the ending…GEEZ! Not to mention…THE DEMON! You heard me! THE DEMON!

Need a story that will rock your world…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Purchase Here

Amazon

BookBub

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar #historicalfiction @harlequinbooks

Posted on October 3, 2023 by fredreeca

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily

Author: Noelle Salazar

ISBN: 9780778305200

MIRA Paperback Original 

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Book Summary:

Set during a period of rapid social and technological change, The Roaring Days of Zora Lily follows a struggling young seamstress from her long nights sewing costumes in the smoke-filled speakeasies of Seattle to designing gowns for Hollywood’s biggest starlets.

2023, The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History: A costume conservator is preparing an exhibition featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to present day. As she gingerly places a gown once worn by Greta Garbo on a mannequin, she discovers another name hidden beneath the designer’s label, leaving her to wonder—who is Zora Lily?

1924, Seattle: Poverty-stricken Zora Hough spends her days looking after her younger siblings while sewing up holes and fixing hems for clients to bring in extra money, working her fingers to the bone just to survive. But at night, as she lies in the bed she shares with one of her three sisters, she secretly dreams of becoming a designer like Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin.

When her best friend gets a job dancing in a club downtown, Zora is lured in by her stories of music, glittering dresses and boys. She follows her friend to the underground speakeasies that are at once exciting and frightening—with smoke hanging in the air, alcohol flowing despite Prohibition, couples dancing in a way that makes Zora blush and a handsome businessman named Harley. It’s a world she has only ever imagined, and one with connections that could lead her to the life she’s always dreamed of. But as Zora’s ambition is challenged by tragedy and duty to her family, she’ll learn that dreams come with a cost.

Review

The Smithsonian museum is working on an exhibit featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to present day. As one of the curators is preparing one of the costumes worn by Greta Garbo, she makes an unusual discovery. The tag in the costume is fake. When the tag accidentally falls off the costume, it reveals the name, Zora Lilly. No one at the museum has ever heard of this costume designer.

To say I loved this novel us an understatement! I loved everything and everyone in it, especially Zora. She is struggling to keep her family together after her father’s accident and her brother’s death. She is giving up her life to make sure everyone is taken care of. Until…her best friend makes her go out on the town to a speakeasy. This opens more than one world for her.

This story captivated me from start to finish. Zora, Harley, the speakeasies, old Hollywood create a tale you do not want to miss!

AND ISN’T THIS COVER GORGEOUS!!!

Need a story that will transport you to the jazz age…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Author Bio

Noelle Salazar was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, where she’s been a Navy recruit, a medical assistant, an NFL cheerleader, and always a storyteller. As a novelist, she has done extensive research into the Women Airforce Service Pilots, interviewing vets and visiting the training facility—now a museum dedicated to the WASP—in Sweetwater, Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found dodging raindrops and daydreaming of her next book. Her debut The Flight Girls, was an instant bestseller, a Forbes Hypable book of the month, and a BookBub Top Recommended book from readers. Her second novel, Angels of the Resistance: A Novel of Sisterhood and Courage in WWII was also published to wide praise including an Amazon Editors’ Fiction Pick of the Month. Noelle lives in Bothell, Washington with her family.

Social Links:

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

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/noelle_salazar 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18424925.Noelle_Salazar

Buy Links:

HarperCollins.com: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-roaring-days-of-zora-lily-noelle-salazar?variant=41016586567714 

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-jazz-girl-original-noelle-salazar/19574911?ean=9780778305200 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-roaring-days-of-zora-lily-noelle-salazar/1143092714?ean=9780778305200 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0778305201/keywords=historical%20fiction?tag=harpercollinsus-20 

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9780778305200

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment