Veteran agent Lachlan Kite—“a spy for the 21st century” (Daily Mail)—reckons with the fallout from a mission in Senegal carried out early in his career. 1995: In the wake of the Rwandan genocide, 24-year-old spy Lachlan Kite and his girlfriend, Martha Raine, are sent to Senegal on the trail of a hunted war criminal. The mission threatens to spiral out of control, forcing Kite to make choices which will have devastating consequences not only for his career at top-secret intelligence agency BOX 88, but also for his relationship with Martha.
2023: Eric Appiah, an old friend from Kite’s days at school and an off-the-record BOX 88 asset, makes contact with explosive information about what happened all those years ago in West Africa. When tragedy strikes, Kite must use all the resources at his disposal to protect Martha from a criminal network with links to international terror.
Charles Cumming once again straddles two timelines to create a high-tension thriller in this latest Lachlan Kite novel.
Review
Eric Appiah, a Box 88 asset, has reached out to his old friend, Kite. There is trouble brewing and Eric knows Kite is the only one to handle a criminal network with links to an international error group.
Boy! I loved Kite! He is tough and has a sentimental side! I have never read a book in this series. But, I probably would have liked this book more if I had. It is a good read, I just wanted to know more of Kite’s backstory.
This is told in two different time periods, 1995 and present day. This can cause some issues with a novel, but the author did a great job with the time line switches. I also loved the vivid setting of Senegal. I love traveling to a place I have never been and this author took me on a fabulous ride!
Need a fast-paced, spy thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
The New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor returns with a spellbinding new book perfect for fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age and fans of Marie Benedict, Karen Harper, and Fiona Davis. This sweeping novel of historical fiction is inspired by the true rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huntington—a woman whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America.
1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham’s gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It’s not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm. Even at seventeen, Arabella possesses an unyielding grit, and a resolve to escape her background of struggle and poverty.
Collis Huntington, railroad baron and self-made multimillionaire, is drawn to Arabella from their first meeting. Collis is married and thirty years her senior, yet they are well-matched in temperament, and flirtation rapidly escalates into an affair. With Collis’s help, Arabella eventually moves to New York, posing as a genteel, well-to-do Southern widow. Using Collis’s seed money and her own shrewd investing instincts, she begins to amass a fortune.
Their relationship is an open secret, and no one is surprised when Collis marries Arabella after his wife’s death. But “The Four Hundred”—the elite circle that includes the Astors and Vanderbilts—have their rules. Arabella must earn her place in Society—not just through her vast wealth, but with taste, style, and impeccable behavior. There are some who suspect the scandalous truth, and will blackmail her for it. And then there is another threat—an unexpected, impossible romance that will test her ambition, her loyalties, and her heart . . .
An American Beauty brings to vivid life the glitter and drama of a captivating chapter in history—and a remarkable woman who lived by her own rules.
Review
Collis Huntington is a multimillionaire, railroad baron. When he encounters young Arabella, he is immediately smitten. Collis is married but that does not stop him from moving Arabella and her whole family to New York. Arabella is a shrewd young lady. She begins to buy property and eventually amasses her own fortune.
Well, I put this book WAY on the back burner. I was given a preview copy and, yes, I started it. But I swear…I could not get into it. And it just sat there and sat there. I finally started it back up after months of it staring at me on my must read list. And y’all, it is a pretty dad blame good read. I am so glad I picked it back up! (I almost didn’t!). I would have missed a true gem!
I really enjoyed Arabella. She is smart, unique and tough. She does what she has to do to insure her family will be safe and never be hungry again. She was raised very poor. So when she saw a chance to escape, she took it. And this did not come without trials and tribulations, especially in this time period.
The narrator, Gail Shalan, is a wonderful asset. I am not sure if I have ever listened to a book narrated by her. I will be on the lookout for more.
Need a very good historical fiction about a woman who does not stop…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
They stole her dream. Now getting it back will take the perfect crime. It’s summer in New York City and Faye Walker has it all. She’s not only scored one of the most highly coveted internships in all of Wall Street, she’s also just met the head-over-heels love of her life. With her natural-born gift for numbers and a work ethic that knows no bounds, Faye is a shoo-in for a full-time position at the illustrious merchant bank Greene Brothers Hale. Then, just as she awaits her offer and her signing bonus, a treacherous betrayal arrives to shatter Faye’s plans and her young life. But what her high finance masters-of-the-universe bosses don’t know is that Faye isn’t like any of the other interns. Having made her way past her humble small-town beginnings, for Faye, going back is not an option. That’s why Faye now has a new plan. One that involves Swiss watch timing, nerves of steel and ten million dollars in cold hard Wall Street cash. “The Girl in the Vault is Ledwidge’s best.”—James Patterson
Review
Faye is an intern at a private bank in NYC. She really needs to get the job offered to interns to get out of the rut her life is in. But, she soon finds out that the job is not going to be hers. It is going to the mistress of the president of the bank. So, Faye develops a scheme to steal the bank of quite a bit of its funds!
Well, well, well…little miss Faye is a piece of work! This book is not exactly what I expected it to be. It is so much more! Talk about smart, intense and a bit energetic in places. And Faye! Boy! She does not let grass grow under her feet. She takes it all to the next level. Talk about a planner and an intelligent one at that!
Need a financial thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Author Bio:
MICHAEL LEDWIDGE is the writer of seventeen novels, the last dozen being New York Times bestsellers cowritten with one of the world’s bestselling authors, James Patterson. With twenty million copies in print, their Michael Bennett series is the highest-selling New York City detective series of all time. One of their novels, Zoo, became a three-season CBS television series. He lives in Connecticut.
Once the hottest mergers and acquisitions executive in the company, Henrietta Wegner can see the ambitious and impossibly young up-and-comers gunning for her job. When Henri’s boss makes it clear she’ll be starting the New Year unemployed unless she can close a big deal before the holidays, Henri impulsively tells him that she can convince her aging parents to sell Wegner’s–their iconic Frankenmuth, Michigan, Christmas store–to a massive, soulless corporation. It’s the kind of deal cool, corporate Henri has built her career on.
Home for the holidays has typically meant a perfunctory twenty-four-hour visit for Henri, then back to Detroit as fast as her car will drive her. So turning up at the Wegner’s offices in early December raises some eyebrows: from her delighted, if puzzled, parents to her suspicious brother and curious childhood friends. But as Henri fields impatient texts from her boss while reconnecting with the magic of the store and warmth of her hometown, what sounded great in the boardroom begins to lose its luster in real life. She’s running out of time to pull the trigger on what could be the greatest success of her career…or the most awkward family holiday of her life.
With unabashed winter charm, The Wishing Bridge sparkles with the humor and heart fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Nancy Thayer and Jenny Colgan love most.
Includes the bonus novella Christmas Angels.
“A beautifully written story about second chances. Fans of women’s fiction won’t be able to put this down.” –Publishers Weekly on The Secret of Snow
“Viola Shipman knows relationships. The Clover Girls will sometimes make you smile and other times cry, but like a true friendship, it is a novel you will forever savor and treasure.” –Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author
“The perfect winter warmer!” –USA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan on The Secret of Snow
Review
Henrietta has come home for Christmas. She has not been in quite a while so this raises red flags with her brother. Henrietta’s family owns one of the biggest Christmas store in the country. So, why did Henrietta suddenly decide to come home after years away? Her boss issued her an ultimatum…that’s why! Will Henrietta risk her family’s livelihood for her corporate job?
There were several times in this tale that I wanted to pinch Henrietta. But, as the story moves along, Henrietta becomes aware of the love of her family. And her purpose changes course. This is the best part of the novel. She really grows and realizes work and career are important but NOT above family! Something a lot of people need to realize.
This story is so rich with imagery and fabulous characters! I felt like I was right in the middle of a great Christmas store!
Need a beautiful story about the love of family to start your holiday season…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Author Bio
VIOLA SHIPMAN is the pen name for internationally bestselling LGBTQIA author Wade Rouse. Wade is the author of fifteen books, which have been translated into 21 languages and sold over a million copies around the world. Wade writes under his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, to honor the working poor Ozarks seamstress whose sacrifices changed his family’s life and whose memory inspires his fiction.
Wade’s books have been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show, Michigan Notable Books of the Year and Indie Next Picks. He lives in Michigan and California, and hosts Wine & Words with Wade, A Literary Happy Hour, every Thursday.
An epic story of love, betrayal, and art that spans decades, through the horrors of World War II to 21st century America, inspired by an actual porcelain factory in Dachau.
Two lovers caught at the crossroads of history. A daughter’s search for the truth.
Germany, 1929. At a festive gathering of young bohemians in Weimar, two young artists, Max, a skilled Jewish architect, and Bettina, a celebrated avant-garde painter, are drawn to each other and begin a whirlwind romance. Their respective talents transport them to the dazzling lights of Berlin, but this bright beginning is quickly dimmed by the rising threat of Nazism. Max is arrested and sent to the concentration camp at Dachau where only his talent at making exquisite porcelain figures stands between him and seemingly certain death. Desperate to save her lover, Bettina risks everything to rescue him and escape Germany.
America, 1993. Clara, Bettina’s daughter, embarks on a journey to trace her roots and determine the identity of her father, a secret her mother has kept from her for reasons she’s never understood. Clara’s quest to piece together the puzzle of her origins transports us back in time to the darkness of Nazi Germany, where life is lived on a razor’s edge and deception and death lurk around every corner. Survival depends on strength, loyalty, and knowing true friend from hidden foe. And as Clara digs further, she begins to question why her mother was so determined to leave the truth of her harrowing past behind…
The Porcelain Maker is a powerful novel of enduring love and courage in the face of appalling brutality as a daughter seeks to unlock the mystery of her past.
Review
Bettina and Max are at the start of their careers. Max is an architect and Bettina is a painter. Their love is strong and powerful and it shows in their work. But, with the rise of Nazism, their lives are forever changed. Max is taken away to Dachau and Bettina is forced into a marriage to an SS officer.
I love the dual timelines. The author creates such a great family mystery. This story begins with Clara trying to find out who her real father is. Her mother has kept this a secret her whole life. Since her mother has died, Clara is left to try and put the pieces of the puzzle together.
The story flashes back and forth between Bettina’s struggle to escape the Nazis and save Max and Clara’s struggle to find the truth. And it all boils down to the unique porcelain figurines that Max created in Dachau’s porcelain factory.
The narrator, Kristin Atherton, is amazing. She hit all the right intonations and emotions. This book could not have been narrated any better.
Need a powerful tale which will have your emotions all over the place…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Crime boss Georgio Gambino abducts Sean “Mick” McPherson’s pregnant wife, Emma, and his friend’s two daughters and contracts to sell them and another group of women—some into forced labor, others as sex slaves, and a few for their organs.
Review
Georgio Gambino, crime boss, is not going to be stopped. He has kidnapped Sean McPherson’s pregnant wife and his friend’s daughters. Georgio has a plan! He intends on using these ladies for sex, slavery and their internal organs.
As usual, Laurie has created a great setting with the Pine and Quill in the Pacific Northwest. And don’t get me started on this delicious food served at this writing retreat. Add in these fabulous characters and this book is non stop! I am half in love with Sean McPherson. He is truly a nice guy and tough as nails.
The intensity in this novel just won’t quit! I swear, I had to take a breath or two in places!
This is book 4 of the Sean McPherson tales. It is not necessary that you read the others, BUT, if you read this one, you will definitely want to pick up the ones before this! To me, this is the best one of the bunch!
Need an all around good tale…This novel comes out April 9. Add it to your list!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
Welcome to “In Real Life,” the hot new reality show that forces social media’s reigning kings and queens to unplug for three weeks and “go live” without any filters. IRL is supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime, watched closely by legions of loyal followers. But for these rising stars—including Elody, an Instagram model with an impulsive streak; Kira, a child star turned fitness influencer; Logan, a disgraced TikTok celeb with a secret; and Max, a YouTuber famous for exposés on his fellow creators—it’s about to turn into a nightmare.
When the production crew fails to show up and one of their own meets a violent end, these social media moguls find themselves stranded with a dead body and no way to reach the outside world. When they start receiving messages from a mysterious Sponsor threatening to expose their darkest secrets, they realize that they’ve been lured into a deadly game…and one of them might be pulling the strings.
With the body count rising and cameras tracking their every move, the creators must figure out who is trying to get them canceled—like, literally—before their #1 follower
Review
“In Real Life” is a new reality show. The kings and queens of social media have been invited to spend 3 weeks completely unplugged on a deserted island. Cameras are going to be watching their every move. UNTIL the camera crew never shows up and the group is left stranded with no way to reach the mainland. Then the first body is discovered and it turns everyone into a suspect.
This novel has been done quite a few times before. It is nothing new. I did enjoy the story, even if it is a bit of a repeat. But I absolutely hated every character in this tale. This is the main reason for the 3 star rating. I just really wanted to slap each and every one. They are spoiled, self centered, little brats. This is what makes the story turn…I guess. The reader really doesn’t know who, what, when or why this is happening. Each character has some major bad qualities and so you are guessing which one is causing this whole ruckus. And believe me…all of them are capable.
Need a story with a reality tv feel….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
One girl murdered…another one missing…and a medical examiner desperate to uncover the truth in When I’m Dead, the latest Black Harbor mystery by acclaimed author Hannah Morrissey.
On a bone-chilling October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. Hours later, the tragedy hits even closer to home when she makes a devastating discovery—her daughter, Chloe, is gone. But, not without a trace.
A morbid mosaic of clues forces Rowan and her husband to question how deeply they really knew their daughter. As they work closely to peel back the layers of this case, they begin to unearth disturbing details about Chloe and her secret transgressions…details that threaten to tear them apart.
Amidst the noise of navigating her newfound grief and reconciling the sins of her past, an undeniable fact rings true for Rowan: karma has finally come to collect.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.
Review
Rowan and her husband have been called away to investigate a murder. Rowan is the medical examiner and her husband is a detective. The girl murdered is the same age as their daughter. When Rowan arrives home, her daughter is missing. This is a twist neither parent can handle.
Rowan has a past. This is how she ended up in this crime ridden town. And now she knows she is paying for the sins of her past. Her daughter has been taken and Rowan knows it is payback, or is it?!?!
The way this author weaves in the killer is very entertaining. I knew the killer wasn’t any of the suspects. Anybody reading this book would know it. That is part of the plot. So, when the killer is unveiled, it is such a vague character, as a reader, you go “oh there he/she is!” I love when I am kept guessing, even when I don’t really have a chance. (A clue is probably in there and I just missed it)
I have said this before and I will say it again…I LOVE when an audio book is a production. It made this book for me. This book is a bit slow in the set up. But, with all the narrators keeping the characters real, this story turned out to be a pretty good read.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Jacqueline Firkins’s The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch is a beautiful story of friendship, and second chances at love.
Imogen Finch has just been through her seventeenth breakup. She saw it coming, so she’s not as crushed as she might be, but with all seventeen of her exes leaving her for other partners, she’s come to believe a prediction her well-intentioned and possibly clairvoyant mother made over twenty years ago: that Imogen would never come first at anything or to anyone. Is her love life failing due to a magical curse? Insufficient effort? Poor timing or personality mismatches? Everyone has opinions on the matter.
Imogen’s ready to give up altogether. But when Eliot Swift, her secret high school crush, returns to their small coastal town after a decade of nomadic travels, Imogen has new motivation to try again. Eliot’s full of encouragement. He suggests that her curse is not only imagined, it’s easily breakable. All they need is one win–any win–and she can believe in love, and in herself again.
From trivia games to swimming races to corn-shucking contests, the pair sets out to snag Imogen her first first. But when victory proves more elusive than Eliot anticipated, and when his deep-seeded wanderlust compels him to depart for far away places, Imogen fears she’s destined to remain in second place forever. Fortunately for them both, sometimes magic lingers in the most unexpected places. And love is far from predictable.
Review
Eliot’s father has passed away and he has returned to his home town after being away for 10 years. Imogen has been in love with Eliot since, well, FOREVER! But with Imogen’s track record with love, she just knows she and Eliot will just remain friends forever.
I adored Eliot and Imogen! These two have a past and it just keeps getting in their way. Plus, they are big friends and this just adds to the drama! Eliot has a big hang up with his family and he likes to run away. Imogen is determined that she is cursed. So, will these two work it out and get together. Well, not without some drama, tears and some cute little hiccups!
Need an adorable friends to lovers romance…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
From Emmy-award winning actor, author, comedian, producer, and director Henry Winkler, a deeply thoughtful memoir of the lifelong effects of stardom and the struggle to become whole.
Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as “The Fonz” in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.
Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he’s been revealed as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work.
Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.
A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books.
Review
Growing up on Happy Days, this book brought back so many memories. And I learned so much about Henry. Having a slight crush on him growing up, I thought I knew everything about him. I didn’t know half of it! I didn’t know he wrote children’s books…and I am an avid reader! Geez! I also did not know he was dyslexic. Boy! He made it all look so easy! He is so talented and he has worked so hard to stay in the Hollywood game.
His wife also made a unique appearance. It is very fascinating to hear, in her own voice, narrate her part of the book. Her take on her experiences with Henry’s world made it so real and appealing.
I love when an author narrates their own book and NO ONE…AND I MEAN, NO ONE could have done it better than Henry himself!
Need a wonderful, nostalgic (for me anyway) memoir…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review
reecaspieces 