Talulah’s Back In Town by Brenda Novak @harlequinbooks #bookreview

Tahlulah’s Back in Town

Author: Brenda Novak

ISBN: 9780778386179

Publication Date: August 22, 2023

Publisher: MIRA

Book Summary:

Talulah Barclay returns to Coyote fourteen years after leaving her fiance at the alter. She’s back to sell her deceased aunt’s home and head back to Seattle as quickly as possible since the memories in a small town are long and no one has forgiven her for running off. And when she finds herself falling for the best friend of her jilted ex she knows life is going to get more difficult. And when she’s injured by shattered glass after someone throws a rock through her window she knows she is not welcome in town. But she still has close friends there and they rally around her and she finds herself willing to open her heart to the town and to the man she truly loves.

Review

Talulah’s great aunt has passed away. So, she must return to Coyote. This is not where she wants to be. She left her fiancé, Charlie, at the alter 14 years ago and ran away. And she knows, no one in this small town has forgotten. She also knows she must make amends.

Brenda Novak always has some of the best characters. I swear, I knew everyone in this book! And I loved Talulah! She is just struggling to survive and stay afloat. Then she has to go back to her home town. And BOY, did she make some mistakes there when she was young. She wants to make things right, but as you can guess, it is not as easy as she expected.

Enter Brant. Brant is Charlie’s best friend. Talulah and Brant have never really seen eye to eye. Now, after all these years, these two have a connection. You can just imagine what the town AND Charlie have to say about this!

Need a small town romance….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

Buy Links:

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Author’s Bio

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak has written over 60 novels. An eight-time Rita nominee, she’s won The National Reader’s Choice, The Bookseller’s Best and other awards. She runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity that has raised more than $2.5 million for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). She considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life. Visit Brenda at http://www.brendanovak.com.

Social Links:

Author Website

Facebook: @AuthorBrendaNovak

Twitter: @Brenda_Novak

Instagram: @authorbrendanovak

TikTok: @authorbrendanovak

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Becoming Mrs. Abbott by Kiersten Modglin #audiblebook #bookreview #audiobookreview @dreamscapeaudio

Overview

The Abbotts are liars. Their charming façade is far from the chilling reality that exists behind closed doors. But despite their secrets, they aren’t killers…are they?

When a member of their quiet community is brutally murdered, the Abbotts find themselves prime suspects of the crime. The couple is desperate to prove their innocence, but when a tape is discovered with horrifying evidence, everything changes.

With shocking truths beginning to surface, Rachael and Caide must decide just how far they are willing to go to protect those they love. Can they trust anyone around them, including each other? They’re liars, remember? 

This book was previously published as If It Walks Like a Killer.

Review

Caide and Rachel have a very rocky marriage and they have been for a while. Caide begins an office romance. So, when his office romance comes up dead, Caide knows he is the prime suspect. When the police turn down his road, he prepares his wife for the worst. But, it is not Caide they are after…IT IS RACHEL!

Talk about twisting and turning! This novel started out and I honestly thought it was going to be a “fatal attraction” type of tale. But, guess what…it twisted when the police came after Rachel. But, that wasn’t the last twist…not by a long shot.

The only reason for the 4 star rating is this is a bit far fetched on the courtroom proceedings. I am not an attorney but there is no way some of this would occur. BUT! This book is very creative and I definitely was glued to the pages. It was just a bit frustrating the way the author manipulated the outcome. That being said, I almost finished this in one day! It moves quickly and boy, are you wondering where this will go next.

And oh my gosh! The narrators! Narrated by Ellen Quay; Angie Kane; Pete Cross; Pat Grimes; Chris Lutkin; Stephanie Willing; Qarie Marshall; Sarab Kamoo…fantastic! I love a production and believe me…THIS ONE IS ONE OF THE BESTS!

Need a good thriller with several twists that will have you gasping…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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In A Quiet Town by Amber Garza #bookreview #suspense #thriller @harlequinbooks

Overview

Turn[ing] a familiar suburban setting into a deliciously chilling landscape… Garza once again proves she’s a master of twisted relationships.”—Ashley Winstead, author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife

In this chilling new novel, a woman discovers that her estranged daughter is missing, but no one believes her, until she meets a man claiming to be her daughter’s fiancé.

Tatum hasn’t seen her daughter, Adrienne, in years, not since Tatum’s husband—the pastor in their small California town—all but disowned her. When she finally gathers the courage to secretly reconnect with Adrienne, Tatum’s thrilled she’s even willing to talk to her. But then—Adrienne disappears.

Tatum tries desperately to get the police or her husband to take her daughter’s disappearance seriously, but no one will listen, until a mysterious man shows up claiming to be Adrienne’s fiancé. It’s a relief to finally have someone who believes her, someone who’s trying as hard as she is to find out where Adrienne is. But can she trust that this stranger is who he says he is? And can she find her daughter before it’s too late?

Review

Adrienne has disappeared. Her mom, Tatum, knows something is wrong but no one believes her. Tatum and Adrienne have not had the best relationship but they have reconnected lately. So, Tatum knows she did not go away and not tell anyone. When Adrienne’s fiancé shows up, Tatum is relieved that someone finally believes her. Adrienne IS missing! But then Tatum makes a discovery and this just might be the death of her and Adrienne.

This novel brings out all kinds of feelings. Of course, terrified and angry are the first, but you also have sadness because of the way Adrienne has been treated by her family. Being from the small town south, I see this happen all the time. And to say I wanted to come through the pages and slap someone is an understatement…ok..now that that is out of the way…

I enjoyed these characters. I loved the strength of Adrienne. And her mom…I was just giddy when she finally got her backbone. That was almost the best part of the book! And don’t get me started on Adrienne’s “fiancé”…he is a piece of work.

Need a thriller which creates all kinds of emotions…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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The Killer’s Wife by Susan Furlong #bookreview #mystery #thriller @seventhstbooks

Overview

A serial killer, a woman on the run, and an obsessive parole officer tangle in a psychological net of death and secrets . . .

When a severed finger was found in her car four years ago, Kerry Grey was arrested as an accomplice to the brutal slayings of three young women. Unbeknownst to Kerry, her husband Lucas was not only missing, but a deranged serial killer. Finally out on parole, she is ready to start anew and reunite with her young son. However, when a vigilante group inflamed by fear and motivated by reward money sparks a fevered hunt for Lucas, the nightmares of her past return.

Only one person can help Kerry evade the hysteria of the media—her parole officer, Adam Nash. But can she trust him? Was his move to the backwoods town of Joy, Montana coincidental or does Nash have his own obsessive hidden agenda involving the Hatchet Killer mystery, her husband and sweet justice?

It is not long before Kerry’s new life turns dark when she discovers that Lucas has been secretly giving their son carvings made of bone. And when a freshly dismembered victim is uncovered in the forest, the law is after her once again. Left with nowhere else to run, Kerry escapes up a mountainous trail to find Lucas and, one way or another, put an end to the real-life nightmare.

In a final twist of lies and betrayal, Kerry finds Lucas and the truth that will change everything.

Review

Kerry’s husband Lucas is accused of being the Hatchet Man. He murders young ladies and chops them to pieces. Kerry has served time in prison for being his accomplice. She was found with a finger in her car. She is now out of prison but Lucas was never caught. She now believes he is after her to get to their son.

Kerry broke my heart on more than one occasion. She has definitely gotten a raw deal. Then there is her parole officer, Adam Nash. Something is just not right about him. But, as the reader, you cannot quite put your finger on it.

Now, this novel is unique in more ways than one. And just wait till the end of this book…there is a big twist. Sounds like the author may be planning a sequel! We shall see.

Need a thriller that moves like lightning….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman #bookreview @gosparkpress #fiction #youngadult

Overview

Fourteen-year-old Reese’s dream of winning the Black Elk race is shattered when her beloved horse, Trusted Treasure, falls at the last jump and the vet suggests they put him down. While still reeling from that loss, her family suffers a second tragedy—one that results in the end of their family business, the sale of Trusted Treasure, and irreparable damage to Reese’s relationship with her father.

Heartbroken and still longing to find Trusted Treasure, Reese meets Wes, a selective mute, whose way of training horses is unlike anything she’s ever seen. If anyone can win the Black Elk, it’s Wes—but he’s struggling with his troubled past, and having a teenage girl hanging around his barn isn’t exactly what he’d planned. Through heartaches and triumphs, Reese must prove her worth if she wants to heal her family, help Wes, and show them all that some dreams are worth fighting for.

A spellbinding tale in which every teenager has magical powers within them just waiting to be discovered, this book will have you laughing and crying—sometimes on the same page—all the while rooting for Reese, the most unlikely of heroes.

Review

Reese has lost her mother. Then her dad sells her horse, Trusted Treasure. This damages her relationship with her dad almost beyond repair. So, Reese has had several severe blows in the past few years. But, she has not lost her determination to get her horse back. She meets Wes, who lets Reese hang out at his barn. She works hard and proves her worth. Then she discovers where Trusted Treasure is!

I adored Reese. Now, she is young so she makes some terrible decisions. And I wanted to come through the pages and pop her a time or two. But, I also wanted to hug her as well. She has been through so much and she truly struggles. You can feel so much of her hurt in this story. You also can see her strength coming through these pages.

I am usually not a big fan of young adult novels. But this one may change my mind. This is an emotional yet thrilling read. I love how the author sprinkles in a bit of mysticism! (And, as usual, you will need to read this to find out!)

Need a novel which will have your heart pounding one minute and breaking the next…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin #historicalfiction @harlequinbooks @bookclubbish

Overview

A BookBub Pick for Best Historical Fiction of Summer 2023*

A heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw, by the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.

All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.

But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families—and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left—literature.

Review

Zofia’s wonderful country of Poland has been invaded by the Nazis. As you can guess, this has rocked all of their lives. Zofia’s father has been arrested and her friend has been sent to the ghetto. But, surrounding all this tragedy, Zofia still continues her work in the library. This is where she feels safe. But the laws of the Nazis are still invading her life in her wonderful library. So, she decides to circumvent the Nazis and save as many books as she can.

Zofia is such an amazing young woman. I loved her intelligence and her strength. Not only does she save books, she saves many lives as well and you will need to read this to find out!

This story has quite a few characters to keep up with. But, I enjoyed so much about this novel, especially all the book references! I mean…what book lover wouldn’t!

Need a tragic, but heartwarming story about books…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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The Déjà Glitch by Holly James #bookreview #romance @duttonbooks

Overview

To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .

Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.

So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?

The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.

Review

Gemma is making a name for herself in the music scene in LA. AND she is doing it without the help of her famous, estranged father. However, she is struggling with the break up from her ex-boyfriend. He used her to get to her dad. So, when she literally crashes into Jack, she feels an immediate connection. And then she feels the déjà vu. What is actually happening here?

These two characters are in a time warp. This regular Thursday has played on repeat for them for months. Now, Jack has a plan to get it to stop. He just needs Gemma to get on board. That turns into a pretty tough task.

Now, this story is just a bit out there. But the characters are so dang cute. I adored Gemma and Jack. It does get a bit repetitive because the day repeats over and over. However, they learn something new about each other on every turn of the clock.

Need a unique romance 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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Dark Corners by Megan Goldin @stmartinspress @macmillanaudio #audiobook #audiobookreview #smpinfluencers

Overview

Narrators … Samantha Desz and January LaVoy are … perfect [in] Megan Goldin’s latest thriller involving a true-crime podcaster and her coverage of a rape trial in a North Carolina town. Desz and LaVoy ensure that Rachel Krall and her podcast unfold in an authentic manner that depicts her as powerful and tenacious.” —AudioFile on The Night Swim 

“A gripping story that is equal parts shocking, unnerving, and thrilling. Goldin takes the ‘true crime’ trope to new and unexpected territory.” —Karin Slaughter, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of Girl, Forgotten

Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed The Night Swim, returns to search for a popular influencer who disappears after visiting a suspected serial killer.

Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his release date approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? And why was she visiting him in the first place?

When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel Krall’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems to only exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.

When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail—identical to a tattoo Rachel had seen on Bailey’s hand—the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krall herself. Suddenly the target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

Review

Rachel is a famous, true crime podcaster. She has been contacted by the FBI to assist in the disappearance of a young lady. But, there is more to this disappearance than meets the eyes. And the further the investigation goes the more creepy it becomes.

I am a huge fan of this author and this book will keep you glued to the pages, for sure! Now, it did slow down a bit in the middle but you just can not stop because you know something big is just around the corner.

This story just builds in intensity as it slowly unfolds. I really enjoyed Rachel. She is very intelligent and just keeps pecking away until she discovers the truth. And this lands her in a bit of a mess. And you just need to read it and find out!

It is not necessary that you read The Night Swim to follow this story. However, I do recommend you read that book! Do not miss it!

And I just love a production! And these narrators are fantastic! André Santana, January LaVoy and Samantha Desz really put on a show with this story!

Need a good suspense with a chilling outcome…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today n

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

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In a Quiet Town by Amber Garza #excerpt @harlequinbooks #bookexcerpt #bookspotlight

In a Quiet Town : A Novel

Amber Garza

On Sale Date: August 8, 2023

9780778334255

Trade Paperback

$18.99 USD

336 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In this chilling new novel, a pastor’s wife discovers that her estranged daughter is missing, but no one will believe her, until she meets a man claiming to be her daughter’s fiancé.

The book is about Tatum, a woman who secretly reconnects with her estranged adult daughter—secretly because Adrienne’s been all but disowned by Tatum’s husband, a pastor at the church in their small California town, where every move is watched and reported by his congregation. When Adrienne doesn’t show up for her shift at the bar where Tatum’s been visiting her, she knows something is wrong. Adrienne may have been a bit of wild child, but she hasn’t missed a day of work without calling in for years.

Tatum tries desperately to get the police or her husband to take her daughter’s disappearance seriously, until a mysterious man shows up claiming to be Adrienne’s fiancé. It’s a relief to finally have someone who believes her and is trying as hard as she is to find out where Adrienne is. But can she trust that this stranger is really who he says he is? And can she find her daughter before it’s too late?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amber Garza has had a passion for the written word since she was a child making books out of notebook paper and staples. Her hobbies include reading and singing. Coffee and wine are her drinks of choice (not necessarily in that order). She writes while blaring music, and talks about her characters like they’re real people. She lives with her husband and two kids in Folsom, California.

BUY LINKS:

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/then-she-disappeared-amber-garza/18816653?ean=9780778334255 

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-a-quiet-town-amber-garza/1142722524?ean=9780778334255 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Town-Novel-Amber-Garza/dp/0778334252

SOCIAL LINKS:

Author website: https://ambergarza.com/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ambergarzaauthor/?hl=en 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ambermg1?lang=en

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ambergarzaauthor/

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

His hands were in her hair, fingers threaded through the silky strands. I knew what it felt like. My fingers had been buried in her hair many times, including last night. When their lips met I sat up straighter, leaning forward. It didn’t feel real. I worked my jaw. It popped and clicked. My own mouth buzzed with the memory of how her lips felt on mine.

The kiss was long. Too long.

She liked it.

My shoulder muscles pulled tight, a rubber band being stretched beyond its limits. I thought they might snap.

The two of them drew back. She smiled. Smiled with the same lips that had smiled at me. Kissed me. Told me they loved me. Clearly, a lie.

She brushed back her hair, and the diamond on her finger sparkled.

Her ring. The one I’d given her. She was wearing it.

It felt like a punch to the gut. Like a big “fuck you” to me.

It wasn’t like she knew I’d followed her. But still… Shouldn’t she take her engagement ring off before she hooked up with another dude?

Throwing her head back, her neck exposed, she giggled.

Imagining my hands wrapping around that tender flesh, I squeezed the steering wheel. It gave under the pressure, and I squeezed harder. It felt good. Therapeutic. I pictured her terrified. Pleading. Mouth tight, eyes bulging. I squeezed and squeezed, my teeth grinding, the vein in my forehead throbbing. My muscles ached by the time I released my grip.

Their hands clasped. My breathing was labored as I watched them walk off together, around the side of the building, out of sight.

I’d loved her. Given her so much.

How dare she?

No one made a fool out of me.

She wouldn’t get away with this. Not by a long shot.

Excerpted from In A Quiet Town by Amber Garza, Copyright © 2023 by Amber Garza. Published by MIRA Books.

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Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin @macmillanaudio @flatironbooks #audiobookreview #audiblebook

Overview

BEING DEVELOPED AS A TV SERIES BY FOX

“An expertly rendered mystery, complete with compelling characters, an impeccably paced plot, and surprising twists…A must-read!” —Heather Gudenkauf, bestselling author of The Overnight Guest

A scientist and reluctant psychic is brought in to find a girl who went missing long ago in the new novel by Julia Heaberlin, the bestselling author of We Are All the Same in the Dark

Vivvy Bouchet, daughter of a known psychic, was ten when she saved a boy’s life by making an impossible prediction. Now she’s an astrophysicist in Texas, devoted to science, but the boy she saved has become a cop who continues to believe she can see things no one else can. When he begs for help on the high-profile cold case of a kidnapped girl, Vivvy steps back into the ocean of voices that once nearly drowned her.

She is forced to team up with detective Jesse Sharp, a skeptic of anything but fact. When Vivvy becomes the target of a conspiracy theorist podcaster, she fights back with both her scientific mind and her inexplicable gifts, hoping to lure a kidnapper, find a child who haunts her, and lay some of her own ghosts to rest.

Sharply relevant, Julia Heaberlin’s Night Will Find Youexplores the mysterious nature of belief—in psychic power, in science, in conspiracies, in a higher power—and the delicate dance between scientific truth and the things we can’t explain.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

Review

Vivvy is a very special woman. She sees and feels certain psychic phenomenon. She has helped the police out on quite a few occasions but she has now been brought in on one of the most famous Texas mysteries, the cold case of a kidnapped child. She must team up with a doubter of her abilities, Jesse Sharp.

I loved Vivvy! And she makes quite a few mistakes, especially with the podcaster, and this does not help her case. But, she truly wants to find this little girl. She knows deep in her soul that this case is not what everyone thinks. It takes all her powers and intelligence to discover exactly what happened. And you can bet, it is not at all what you think!

I truly cannot wait to see these characters come alive on tv. I have specific visions for each and every one (which will most likely be my downfall!). I also want this to be made into a book series. I can see Vivvy helping the FBI and creating a world of solved cases surrounding her.

Oh my word y’all, Karissa Vacker, is the narrator and she is amazing. She has become one of my favorites. She is perfect for Vivvy and I loved her voice for Jesse. This lady can make any book outstanding!

Need a wonderful, twisted mystery….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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