"Big Lies In A Small Town" by Diane Chamberlain

Buy "Big Lies In A Small Town" on Amazon- Jan 14 2020: click here!


"This mural was supposed to be for the Edenton Post Office. But Anna Dale went crazy or something-I can't remember exactly what my father told me. She lost her mind while she was working on it, thus the finished product was never installed. My father's owned it for decades and he wants-wanted- to hang it in the foyer of the gallery."

In 1940 a young woman wins an art contest. Anna leaves New Jersey for a small North Carolina town, in order to paint a mural on a post office wall. What she finds will not be what she expected.

Now it’s 2018 and someone has come to the states woman’s prison to offer Morgan a deal. She can leave her prison sentence behind if she agrees to restore that mural for a late well known artist.

The story is told between Anna, and what she encountered during her time in Edenton, N.C., and Morgan’s current work on the mural. What Morgan does uncover, as she restores Anna’s mural, is a story covered up by lies, secrets of the past of this small town.

"Anna Dale, though...She'd been excited by the mural. She'd wanted to do a perfect job. Her heart had been in it then something happened. It must have been something truly terrible to turn this pretty girl into...what? A mentally ill artist who mysteriously vanished from the art world?"


What happened to Anna back in 1940? What will happen to Morgan when she discovers the truth? Why did the late famous artist, Jesse Williams, choose her of all people for this job? She was in art school when her life derailed, but not qualified in restoration. Morgan is on a deadline to have that mural restored. The pressure of having to meet the deadline is so strong. Much is at stake here.

I found the story captivating from the first chapter. With a few wonderful surprises written seamlessly into the story line. Unique weave of the past and the present. I loved the characters of both Anna and Morgan. Two strong women from different times. The book was better than I expected, which is always a wonderful thing.


Thank you Diane Chamberlain, Netgalley, and St. Martins Press 
#netgalley #bigliesinasmalltown #dianechamberlain #st.martinspress

"No Longer Flighty Fanny" by Jessica Spencer

Buy "No Longer Flighty Fanny" on Amazon: click here

"She fanned her anger. It became her shield and her strength. She blamed her mother for not bothering to caution her about the dangers that could befall a girl. She blamed her father for turning a blind eye and letting her gad about on her own. None of what happened was her fault! It was her parents and her sanctimonious sisters who were to blame! She took much better care of the strays she picked up."

This is the third book in the “Sisters by Marriage” series. I have enjoyed this change of pace from my regular genre of serial killers and the police who chase them. These are called “Clean Regency Romance” Books. There’s plenty of drama and family entanglements. Relationships are built and destroyed, as in any time of life. The books may be read in any order, and are clearly understandable from one to the next.

This story leads with a young girl named Fanny. Her home life is hard, and she seeks escape where she can. Unfortunately at a young age she was taken advantage of, and it will continue to damage her life. One of several evil men refuse to go away, and takes it upon themselves to ruin her reputation. Denying her any chance at happiness.

Fanny has found love, Andrew. Unfortunately Andrew gives into the rumors, and Fanny is forced to return to her family. There her father intervenes forcing her into an arraigned marriage. Andrew, heartbroken, also tries to come to terms with it. He sails away from London to Boston.

Circumstances change when Fanny becomes a widow, and Andrew decides to pursue Fanny once again. Does she still love him? He knows he was wrong. Andrew is going back to London to find out where they stand. Rumors persist and the damage has long followed her. Can she open her heart?

A very pleasant read. A step back in time.

Thank you Jessica Spencer