"Not Just Lovely Laura" (Sisters by Marriage Book 2) A Clean Regency Romance by Jessica Spencer

"Laura looked forward to her visits to the children's home. She also had the satisfaction of knowing the children were happy to see her."...

Laura is the daughter of the Earl of Daventon. As a child she suffered the consequences of her parents broken marriage. Raised by her reclusive father, she’s now on her way to meet with her estranged mother.

While visiting her mother she becomes enthralled by Anthony, Duke of Wimberley. Suffering from a jaded heart, he’s in search of a woman to be a mother to his child, not a love match. Laura has her love aspirations secretly pinned on Anthony. They are in search of opposite things, or are they?

A scandal will threaten to ruin the Duke and his reputation. Will Laura side with him or against him? Can he convince her of the truth? Are they meant to be, or will fate keep them apart?

Once again a nice flowing story by this author. Out of my usual genre, and a wonderful change of pace. Such a pleasant read.

Thank you Jessica Spencer.

Buy "Not Just Lovely Laura" now on Amazon: click here!

"Forbidden Cure" Part Two:Revelations by William Rubin

                                                                             
 Get your copy of "Forbidden Cure" Part Two: Revelations on Amazon: click here!

This is Book Two in the “Chris Ravello” medical mystery stories. We are back in the aftermath of Book One. 

Former Detective Chris Ravello has lost his wife and his job. A debilitating disease is threatening to also take his life. His best friend, Detective Kevin Kennedy, continues to be his support. He also focuses on helping Chris, and letting Chris help him.

A possible trial cure for Chris has taken the lives of other “patients.” As Kennedy investigates he realizes the connection. Can Chris be saved? Will the perpetrator of this “cure” be caught? What will be the “Revelations?”

I enjoyed both books in this series. Someone from the past makes startling claims. Can a killer be used to catch a killer? Now to look forward to “Forbidden Cure 3: Sordid Aspirations.”

Thank you William Rubin

"Going to the Sun" by Eddie Owens

Buy " Going to the Sun" now on Amazon: click here!

"Sometimes, on a Sunday morning or on a holiday. Beth would pick him up and they would head for the mountains. The "Going-to-the-sun" Road was the main tourist road in Montana, fifty miles long, crossing Glacier National Forest.".....

Danny and Beth are supposed to graduate high school and go on to live happily ever after. At least that was the plan before the tragic violence that tore them apart. One goes to prison and one goes into the army. They each live a life they’d not expected. 

The story winds through the before and after of their relationship. A looming threat will reunite them in a way. Can the past be laid to rest? Is there forgiveness for the mistakes they’ve made?

This tale was compelling from the start. I liked how the characters developed from young teenagers into young adults, faced with hard reality of both prison and war. What would they learn and take away from these lessons? 

The book was mostly about their lives apart. The end tied up the beginning. Kind of like real life. You meet when you are young and you part, going about the business of your life. One day fate intervenes and you are back in the others space again. So many ways that ending can go. 

Thank you Eddie Owens.

"After The Fire" by Will Hill

                                                                                           

          Buy "After the Fire" now on Amazon: click here!

"INTERROGATING THEM! screams Father John. CLAWING INTO THEIR SOULS, RIPPING AND TEARING! VIOLATING! DAMNING THEM TO HELL! His voice is echoes through my skull, sending a shiver up my spine. I silently scream at him to shut up because I won't believe that Dr. Hernandez was telling the truth when he said he isn't enemy, that he generally means no harm. I really want to believe him. I just can't."....

Moonbeam. It’s her name. A teenager living in a religious compound. Brainwashed and unaware. The story alternates between a moment in time when everything changes for this seventeen year old girl, before the fire, and “After the Fire.” 

Moonbeam hears Father John in her head. Everything he ever told her about the outside world. Is it true? When the compound is compromised and a fire ensues, she ends up on the outside. Dealing with strangers, wondering who has survived, and the ones she has lost. She is under the care of people she does not believe in, or does she? 

What an interesting, and some what traumatic story. Reminded me of what may have happened to people who were part of “Waco.” What happens when your entire world is not what you thought? How do you I learn what has been drilled into you your entire life? 

Will Moonbeam find her way in the outside world? Where will she go? What will happen to the others? Read this traumatic story to find out. Felt like a realistic look at what life for a child in a religious cult must be like. 

Thank you Will Hill, Netgalley, and Sourcebooks Fire Publishing. 

#afterthefire #Netgalley

Solace Island by Meg Tilly

                                     

"The car door burst open, and a woman tumbled out. Recognition flashed through him. It was the woman who had been weeping on the ferry."...... Maggie is off to “Solace Island.” An escape attempt from the worst thing that has ever happened to her. Her sister, Eve, goes to be with her. Seeking peace and quiet, it soon turns to anything but. I instantly loved “Solace Island.” It’s the kind of place I hope exists somewhere. Is Maggie going to find what she’s looking for? Part romance, and part suspense, made for a great combination. Maggie meets danger and love. Is it a vacation, or a chance to change her life? A couple surprises along the way. There is danger waiting for her. Her new neighbor may be the only thing standing between her past, and catapulting her into the future. Held my interest, as romance stories aren’t often my genre. I definitely recommend this book as a way to take your own vacation to “Solace Island.” Thank you Meg Tilley, Netgalley, and Berkeley Books Publishing       Buy "Solace Island" on Amazon Nov. 6th: click here!

"The Bruce Springsteen Vault" by Meredith Ochs

Buy "The Springsteen Vault" now on Amazon: click here!

Is it another book about the American blue collar hero, Bruce Springsteen? It’s not your typical story that’s already been told. I reviewed a computer version, but the actual copy promises to be pretty cool. With pictures and removable memorabilia, this is “For You,” Springsteen fans.

Reading about Bruce and his life never gets old. I’ve been a fan for many years. This is a performer that has stayed on track and never lets his fans down. He’s also a genuine person in real life, as is his wife. Yes, we’ve met. This book is about the guy that tells the stories about real life. The stories of the places a lot of us come from. It’s why we relate to him so closely. He’s lived it and so have we. The author did a fine job of capturing that about Bruce.

Seeing the wonderful history of the man who will turn 70 next year, is truly a treat for your senses. There were some things I’d not read before, along with the usual history. Also, more in depth stories told by a few people who were with him, and still remain friends.

I’ve yet to find out the one answer to a question I’ve had for 25 years. Bruce told me he named his son, Evan, after a character in a book. I’ve regretted not getting that directly from him ever since. My son, Evan, wonders also. I read Springsteen books hoping to find that out one day. Not that it’s really relevant to anything. A curiosity to what kind of books Springsteen reads.

This is the kind of biography that actually honors Bruce and his roots. I was glad to read and review it, and enjoyed the photographs. Would make a wonderful gift for us Springsteen fans. It was actually a fun and entertaining read.

Thank you Meredith Ochs, Netgalley, and Quarto Publishing Group

#BruceSpringsteen #Netgalley

"Pippa" by Malynda Schlegel

       



"Thoughts buzzed around my head like flies, and I flinched. Had they been talking about leaving, together, without me? Well, it wasn't like I needed to be part of it if I wasn't going anywhere, I told myself. But still. I didn't like they were talking about leaving, possibly together, behind my back. Like it would be so easy to do, to just leave. "

Pippa, a young girl in the town of Pepper Rock. Small Town, USA. Pippa lives with her parents. Can we say dysfunctional?

From the moment the story started, and took us through the years with Pippa, I was totally hooked. I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen, but had to keep going until the end. The life Pippa has created for herself may not be the reality of what everyone else sees.

Pippa learns to make friends, read others, and basically survive on her own. Heartbreak, reasoning, and reality will enter soon enough. How will Pippa turn out? What have her parents done to her?

A story totally inside the head of this young girl. Very intriguing. A few surprises. Great read!

Thank you Malynda Schlegel

Buy "Pippa" now on Amazon: click here!

"The Deadliest Sins" by Rick Reed

                                                                                    








"Jack agreed that it wasn't something they could do on the telephone. But he believed that sooner or later they would have to follow their guts to wherever that would take them. Tracking a serial killer through five states wasn't something he'd had to do. "

Jack Murphy is back in book 7 of this detective series. I have read and reviewed the previous six, and am totally addicted to “Jack Murphy.”

The story begins with the gruesome murders of immigrants, found in an abandoned vehicle. Is this a political statement? Is it a reflection of how people feel about immigrants, or is it something more sinister? Jack, along with his partner, Lydell, have every intention of solving these murders. 

I love the interaction between Jack and Lydell. There is an underlying sense of humor that runs throughout each book. Some of the characters are too annoying not to make fun of them. Jack is a master at putting people in their place, in a subtle way. 

The characters in these books are so well written you believe they exist. Many layers make for an interesting read. The suspense and action also ring true. 

Many things are at stake this go round. A child, families, wives and FBI agents are also in the daily life of Jack and his partner. Doing what they do best, seeking justice for those that no longer have a voice. 

Jack is on a wild ride to solve these murders. Who would leave people in a truck to die a cruel death? 

Thank you Rick Reed, Netgalley, and Kensington Books.

Buy "The Deadliest Sins" on Amazon Oct. 16th 2018: click here!

#TheDeadliestSins #Netgalley

"Accused" The Unsolved Murder Of Elizabeth Andes By Amber Hunt and Amanda Rossmann

Elizabeth Andes was murdered in Ohio in 1978. This book is written from the transcripts from a “True Crime” podcast. The police originally believed they’d solved the case almost immediately. It didn’t turn out that way, and the man originally charged was released.

Now, many years later, two Cincinnati reporters re-examine the murder and uncover new information that showed the police may have ignored useful information. Will Elizabeth’s murder ever be solved? Or was it solved with no justice served?

Such a sad story for Elizabeth, and her family and friends. While I found the book interesting, in the end there is still a dead young woman. It doesn’t make me feel any better about her death. The book provides the facts of the case, and the outcome of where it stands some 40 years later. It also leaves you with possible clues to who may have been the actual killer. Actual pictures and news articles also appear in the book.

It was told with empathy, and I feel it may be comforting to those that actually knew her. She is not forgotten, and more people in the world will now know who she was. A tribute to one lost so young. Authors who don’t plan to give up until the truth is told.

Thank you to authors, Amber Hunt, and Amanda Rossmann, Netgalley, and Diversion Books.

Buy "Accused" on sale Sept 18th on Amazon: click here!

"The Lies We Told" by Camilla Way

"You can't stop me. You know you can't. She was right, of course. She knew that the secret she held over us ensured that we would never try to force the issue.".......

This psychological suspense is enticing from the very beginning. We meet Clara first, wondering where her boyfriend, Luke, has disappeared to. A secret she uncovers scares her even more. Where is Luke?

Alternating chapters take us between Clara and her search in the present, to Doug and Beth and their past. This couple had a little girl named Hannah. Something evil has lurked in Hannah since she was a very young child. 

The lies that Doug and Beth have told to cover for Hannah, and their inability to control her, lead to a connection to Luke and Clara. What has Hannah done and does this connect to Luke’s disappearance?

A thriller story line and not the connections you might think. Fast paced and exciting throughout. I enjoyed this book immensely. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to Luke. Was he still alive? Who was stalking Luke before he disappeared? What does Hannah have to do with any of this, if she does? 

Thank you Camilla Way, Netgalley, and Berkley Publishing Group. 

Buy "The Lies We Told" Oct. 9th on Amazon: click here!